Social Psychology Research

Abstract Introduction: Failure to provide adequate mental health care for nurses can lead to disruptions in performing daily tasks, reduced motivation, and numerous individual and social consequences. This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of emotion regulation training and interpersonal skills training on the psychosocial competence of nurses.
 
Method: The present study was a double-blinded randomized controlled trial with three groups. The study population consisted of 57 nurses, who were purposefully selected from the private hospitals of Amiralmomenin and Valiasr in Tabriz, Iran, in 2024 and were assigned to three groups in a 1:1:1 ratio. The Felner and Lease Social Competence Questionnaire (1990) was administered to all groups prior to the intervention. One intervention group received eight sessions of emotion regulation training (Gratz & Gunderson, 2006), each lasting 90 minutes, once per week. The other intervention group received interpersonal skills training (Hejazi, Babakhani, & Ahmadi, 2018) over seven sessions of 120 minutes each, twice per week. The same questionnaire was completed by participants following the intervention. Data were analyzed using MANOVA and MANCOVA.
 
Results: The adjusted mean differences in psychosocial competence components—including behavioral skills (-11.812), cognitive skills (-3.170), emotional skills (-3.451), and motivational skills (-3.793)—were statistically significant between the two intervention groups (p < 0.005).
 
Conclusion: Given the greater impact of interpersonal skills training compared to emotion regulation training, interpersonal skills training workshops may be utilized as an effective approach to enhance the psychosocial competence of nurses.