The Role of Free Will Belief, Gratitude, and Self‐Control in Improving Nurses’ Job Performance: A Cross‐Sectional Study of a Multiple Mediation Model

Aims The present study aimed to examine the relationships between belief in free will (BFW), gratitude, self‐control, and job performance among nurses, with a particular focus on the mediating roles of gratitude and self‐control. Background Job performance is central to human resource management, particularly in nursing, where it has a significant impact on productivity, quality of care, and patient safety. Recent research has highlighted the importance of positive psychological beliefs (e.g., BFW) in an individual’s job performance. However, little is known about the underlying psychological mechanisms linking BFW to job performance. Design A quantitative cross‐sectional survey design was used for this research. Methods Conducted from January 2021 to May 2022 in two southwest cities of China, the study involved a convenience sample of 709 nurses from several hospitals. Participants completed an anonymous online questionnaire that included measures of BFW, gratitude, self‐control, and job performance. Data analysis was performed with IBM SPSS 26.0 and Hayes’ PROCESS macro, using multiple mediation analyses to examine the relationships and mediating effects between variables. Results The study found significant positive correlations between BFW, gratitude, self‐control, and job performance. Multiple mediation analyses indicated that both gratitude and self‐control significantly mediated the relationship between BFW and job performance. The sequential mediation effect of gratitude and self‐control on the relationship between BFW and job performance was also statistically significant. Conclusions BFW may have a positive effect on job performance among nurses, with gratitude and self‐control serving as independent and serial mediators. Enhancing these psychological factors may improve nurses’ job performance. Implications for Nursing Management Understanding the impact of psychosocial factors such as BFW, gratitude, and self‐control on job performance can help nurse managers develop strategies to improve staff performance and the quality of patient care. By fostering a positive psychological environment, nurse managers can motivate nurses to higher levels of performance. Reporting Method The STROBE criteria were used to report the survey results.