Nurses' Emotional Regulation Capacity as a Determinant of Attitudes and Practice Toward Physical Restraint in Psychiatric Institutions: A Quantitative Survey

PURPOSE: The current study assessed nurses' capacity for emotional regulation, attitudes, and practices regarding the use of physical restraints in psychiatric institutions. METHOD: This study used a cross-sectional descriptive research design. One hundred thirty-seven psychiatric nurses completed a demographic profile, the Emotion Regulation Questionnaire, and Physical Restraint Scale. RESULTS: The majority of participants held a Bachelor's degree and had significantly higher median scores in attitude and practice toward physical restraint compared to those with an Associate degree. In addition, nationality, professional experience, academic qualification, and emotional regulation capacity were identified as significant predictors influencing practice outcomes. CONCLUSION: Providing psychiatric nurses with emotional regulation strategies can enhance their decision-making capacity during physical restraint administration, ensuring patient-centered care and minimizing unnecessary restraint.