The Role of Emotional Support in Improving Mental Well-being in Community Patients: A Nursing Psychology Perspective

Abstract

Abstract: Mental well-being is one of the important indicators of public health. Emotional support has been proven to play a role in helping community patients cope with psychological stress, especially in the context of nursing services. However, research highlighting the relationship between emotional support and mental well-being at the community level is still limited. This study aims to analyze the role of emotional support in improving mental well-being in community patients from the perspective of nursing psychology. Method: This study a cross-sectional design conducted in the Mulyorejo subdistrict during the period of May-July 2025. The sample consisted of 60 people selected using purposive sampling. The research instrument was a validated questionnaire on emotional support and mental well-being. Data analysis used Pearson’s correlation test. Results: The study showed a strong positive relationship between emotional support and mental well-being in community patients (r=0.652; p < 0.001).This indicates that the higher the emotional support received by patients, the better their mental well-being. Discussion: These findings support nursing psychology theory, which emphasizes the importance of  empathetic interaction and therapeutic communication in improving patients mental health. The results of this study are in line with Watson’s concept of caring, which places emotional connection at the heart of nursing practice. In addition, this study shows the urgency of increasing the capacity of nursing staff to provide systematic emotional support, given its significant impact on the mental well-being of community patients. These findings can serve as a basis for developing nursing psychology-based intervention programs in community health services.