Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41782126›Full record

ArticleBMC medical education2026

Gender differences in critical thinking, self-directed learning and humanistic caring abilities among undergraduate nursing students in South China: a cross-sectional study.

Zitong Zhang, Peijuan Jiao, Xiaorou Zeng, Wanting Zhang, Cai Deng, Junxiang Chen, Jia Chen, Li Liu, Ya Shi, Honghong Wang and 1 more

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Article in BMC medical education, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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1 · What the graph read from it

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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

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3 · Its place in the literature

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4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

11 authors.

Zitong ZhangXiang-Ya School of Nursing, Central South University, 172 Tongzipo Street, Changsha, 410013, China.
Peijuan JiaoXiang-Ya School of Nursing, Central South University, 172 Tongzipo Street, Changsha, 410013, China.
Xiaorou ZengXiang-Ya School of Nursing, Central South University, 172 Tongzipo Street, Changsha, 410013, China.
Wanting ZhangXiang-Ya School of Nursing, Central South University, 172 Tongzipo Street, Changsha, 410013, China.
Cai DengXiang-Ya School of Nursing, Central South University, 172 Tongzipo Street, Changsha, 410013, China.
Junxiang ChenXiang-Ya School of Nursing, Central South University, 172 Tongzipo Street, Changsha, 410013, China.
Jia ChenXiang-Ya School of Nursing, Central South University, 172 Tongzipo Street, Changsha, 410013, China.
Li LiuXiang-Ya School of Nursing, Central South University, 172 Tongzipo Street, Changsha, 410013, China.
Ya ShiXiang-Ya School of Nursing, Central South University, 172 Tongzipo Street, Changsha, 410013, China.
Honghong WangXiang-Ya School of Nursing, Central South University, 172 Tongzipo Street, Changsha, 410013, China.
Can GuXiang-Ya School of Nursing, Central South University, 172 Tongzipo Street, Changsha, 410013, China. gucan_cs@csu.edu.cn.

Funding

the China Association of Higher Education 24YJ0415the Philosophy and Social Science Foundation Project of Hunan Province 19YBA348
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThere is an urgent need for the highly qualified nursing staff and gender-diverse nursing team to promote the national health, which makes the personalized nursing education based on gender equality particularly important for the preparation of nursing workforce.

methodsThis study was a cross-sectional study. The participants were asked to complete the Chinese version of the Critical Thinking Scale, Self-directed Learning Scale and humanistic caring scale. Data were examined using Chi-square test, Pearson correlation and hierarchical multiple linear regression.

resultsWe observed a small but significant gender difference (t = -2.004, P = 0.046, Cohen's d = -0.240) in critical thinking ability among female (Mean score = 100.04 ± 12.40) and male nursing students (Mean score = 103.1 ± 14.18). However, there were no gender differences between male and female nursing students in the overall scores of self-directed learning and humanistic caring abilities. Self-directed learning and humanistic caring abilities were identified as two key variables associated with variations in critical thinking ability among nursing students. Moreover, gender differences were observed in the strength of the associations among self-directed learning (female: β = 0.576, ΔR2 = 0.207; male: β = 0.412, ΔR2 = 0.112), humanistic caring (female: β = 0.635, ΔR2 = 0.389; male: β = 0.614, ΔR2 = 0.357) and critical thinking ability in undergraduate nursing student.

conclusionsThis study explored the gender differences in critical thinking, self-directed learning and humanistic caring abilities of nursing students, and also found the different strength of associations among these three key abilities. In the teaching process, nursing educators need to realize the importance of gender issues on nursing education and create gender equality awareness. Gender-mixed reflection activities and case studies that avoid gender-stereotyped roles are recommended.

Indexed as

Education, Nursing, BaccalaureateEmpathyHumanismSelf-Directed Learning as TopicStudents, NursingThinkingAdultChinaCross-Sectional StudiesFemaleHumansMaleSex FactorsYoung AdultCritical thinkingGender differenceHumanistic caringNurse educationSelf-directed learning

Identifiers

PMID41782126
PMCPMC13067426

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LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.