AUTHOR=Huang Lei , Liang Yun-Lin , Hou Jiao-Jiao , Thai Jessica , Huang Yu-Jia , Li Jia-Xuan , Zeng Ying , Zhao Xu-Dong 

TITLE=General Self-Efficacy Mediates the Effect of Family Socioeconomic Status on Critical Thinking in Chinese Medical Students

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Psychology

VOLUME=9

YEAR=2019

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychology/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2018.02578

DOI=10.3389/fpsyg.2018.02578

ISSN=1664-1078

ABSTRACT=<p><bold>Background:</bold> Critical thinking (CT) is an essential competence for medical students. Family socioeconomic status (family SES) and general self-efficacy (GSE) play crucial roles in the development of CT. However, the association among family SES, GSE, and CT in Chinese medical students has yet to be fully investigated.</p><p><bold>Objectives:</bold> To investigate the role of family SES and GSE in the development of CT in Chinese medical students.</p><p><bold>Methods:</bold> 1,338 medical students were recruited using multistage stratified cluster sampling from three institutions in China. The Chinese critical thinking disposition inventory (CTDI-CV), General Self-Efficacy Scale (GSES), and a self-made inventory assessing family SES were administered to collect data. The relationship between CT and family SES as well as GSE was evaluated by structural equation modeling.</p><p><bold>Results:</bold> Students of higher family SES obtained higher CTDI-CV and GSES scores. A positive correlation was found between family SES and CT (<italic>r</italic> = 0.101–0.141, <italic>p</italic> &lt; 0.05 or <italic>p</italic> &lt; 0.01), as well as between family SES and GSE (<italic>r</italic> = 0.111–0.129, <italic>p</italic> &lt; 0.01). Moreover, GSE was moderately correlated with CT (<italic>r</italic> = 0.418, <italic>p</italic> &lt; 0.01). The model of partial mediate effect of GSE showed the best fit index with <italic>X</italic><sup>2</sup> = 29.698, <italic>df</italic> = 9 and <italic>X<sup>2</sup>/df</italic> = 3.300, NFI = 0.990, IFI = 0.993, TLI = 0.984, CFI = 0.993, RMSEA = 0.041.</p><p><bold>Conclusion:</bold> Family SES has a positive albeit limited influence on GSE and CT in Chinese medical students. GSE mediates the effect of family SES on CT and plays a larger role. Enhancing medical student’ GSE maybe an efficacious way to improve medical students’ CT.</p>