Optimism, Communication Skills and Its Related Factors in Midwifery Students

Introduction: Optimism is a tendency towards life and its events. It can affect health via the promotion of social relationships. Aim: This study aimed at investigating optimism, communication skills, and its related factors in midwifery students. Materials and Methods: This descriptive-analytic study was conducted during September to December, 2016. Participants were 115 midwifery students from Ilam University of Medical Sciences who were enrolled into this study through census sampling. Data were collected using demographic characteristics, communication skills, and life-orientation questionnaires. Data were analysed using descriptive and analytical statistics in SPSS version 16. Results: The mean score of communication skills and optimism was 108.9 +/- 10.9 and 13.9 +/- 3.5, respectively. Pearson's correlation coefficient showed that there was a direct correlation between communication skill and optimism scores (r=0.477, p<0.001). Analytical statistical analysis showed a direct relation between age and communication scores (p=0.01) and there was a significant relation in the mean score of communication skills in married people than in single ones (p=0.02). Also, there was a significant correlation between optimism score and the level of awareness of the field of study (p<0.001). Conclusion: In this study, the level of communication skills in midwifery students in Ilam University of Medical Sciences, Iran was moderate and comprehensive training is needed to improve these skills. The level of optimism of life in most midwifery students was relatively good, but more studies are suggested in this regard.