Latent Profile Analysis of Clinical Nurses’ Self-Concept Clarity and Its Influencing Factors—A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract Background Nurses’ self-concept clarity can influence their mental health and professional values significantly. The research on self-concept clarity has primarily assessed individuals' levels of self-concept clarity on the basis of scale scores but has largely overlooked individual heterogeneity. Aims To investigate the potential categories and differences in self-concept clarity characteristics among clinical nurses, analyze the relevant influencing factors, and provide insights for the development of theoretical models and intervention strategies. Methods A convenience sampling method was used to recruit 448 clinical nurses from a tertiary hospital in Shandong Province between July and October 2025. A latent profile analysis (LPA) was employed to identify distinct profiles of self-concept clarity among nurses, and the Big Five Personality Scale was administered to assess their personality traits. A univariate analysis and a logistic regression were conducted to examine the influencing factors. Results On the basis of their self-concept clarity characteristics, the 448 nurses were classified into four groups: “low overt–high covert” (12.28%), “stable high level” (25.89%), “high overt–low covert” (2.01%), and “stable medium–low level” (59.82%). Nurses with higher levels of agreeableness were more likely to belong to the “stable medium–low level” group ( OR = 0.804, P < 0.05) compared with the “low overt-high covert” group. Nurses who exhibited higher levels of extraversion, agreeableness, and rigor were more likely to be assigned to the “stable high level” group ( OR = 1.138, 1.155, 1.430; all P < 0.05). Conversely, greater neuroticism was associated significantly with the “stable medium–low level” group ( OR = 0.534; P < 0.05). Furthermore, nurses with high levels of openness and rigor were more likely to be classified into the “high overt–low covert” group ( OR = 1.400, 1.506; P < 0.05). Conclusion Clinical nurses exhibit distinct variations in self-concept clarity. Accordingly, managers should implement targeted intervention strategies that consider individual personality traits, thereby enhancing nurses’ self-concept clarity. Such measures are critical for advancing the psychological well-being of nurses and ensuring the stability and development of nursing teams.