Mediating Effect of Psychological Capital in the Link Between Loneliness and College Adjustment Among Nursing Students

Loneliness is a common issue among university students, particularly in demanding academic environments such as nursing education. Although previous studies have examined the impact of loneliness on student well-being, limited research has explored the underlying psychological mechanisms that buffer this relationship. To address this gap, this study investigated the mediating role of positive psychological capital (PsyCap) in the relationship between loneliness and college adjustment among nursing students in South Korea. A cross-sectional survey was conducted with 188 undergraduate nursing students from two universities. Data were analyzed using Pearson’s correlation, multiple regression, and Hayes’ PROCESS macro (Model 4) with 10,000 bootstrapped samples. Results indicated that loneliness was significantly and negatively associated with both PsyCap and college adjustment. Mediation analysis confirmed that PsyCap partially mediated the relationship between loneliness and college adjustment (indirect effect β = −.35, 95% CI [−.52, −.21]). This study highlights the importance of fostering internal psychological strengths alongside social support systems in nursing education. Enhancing PsyCap through interventions such as resilience training or peer mentoring may help mitigate these effects. Future research should employ longitudinal or experimental designs to better establish causal relationships.