The Shared Affective Experience: Understanding Induced Affect and Affect Contagion in Military Advanced Practice Nursing Students through Social Network Analysis
Abstract
Affect contagion, the transfer of moods and emotions in groups, is a phenomenon established in corporate and industry settings to influence workplace outcomes. Limited information exists regarding affect contagion among healthcare providers. The purpose of the study was to observe and describe affect contagion in a group of military graduate nursing students using social network analysis. The study had two specific aims: Characterize affect contagion in a social network to represent military advanced practice nursing students, and determine the primary and secondary affective effect size of an affect influencing stimuli. There were 35 participants from a network of 60 students. Social network surveys established relationships among the participants. Students affect was surveyed twice daily 14 times during the semester to measure changes in affect. Affect expressivity and susceptibility to the affect of others was measured. An affect influencing stimulus determined primary and secondary effects of exposure and correlations with the occurrence of affect contagion. There were three findings of interest for specific aim 1. Affect contagion occurred on four data collection days; stimulus exposure on three data collection days changed the affect of exposed participants; and expressivity was correlated with trait and state affect. There were three findings for specific aim 2. Affect scores differed for stimulus exposure groups at 5 timepoints; there was a negative secondary affective effect for one timepoint; and affect evolved over time. The Patient Caring Touch model for inpatient nursing care peer feedback component could integrate a model for self-evaluation that assesses nursing unit affect and allows nurses to evaluate themselves as a team. The model could reveal situations where affect scores are strong and facilitate healthy work environments or identify circumstances or personnel that need support.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 21, 2015
- Accession Number
- AD1127916
Entities
People
- Patricia M. Schmidt
Organizations
- Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences