en Mental Health Mental Health پژوهشی اصيل Original Research <p lang="en"><strong>Aims</strong> Given the important role of nurses in providing care in paediatric wards, where they experience considerable emotional and psychological stress, identifying factors affecting their distress tolerance is essential. Therefore, this study aimed to predict distress tolerance based on core self-evaluations and self-efficacy among nurses working in paediatric wards in Iran, in order to promote their mental health and job performance.</p> <p lang="en"><strong>Instrument & Methods</strong> This descriptive-correlational study included all nurses working in paediatric wards in North Khorasan Province in 2025. Due to the limited population size, census sampling was used, and 130 nurses participated. Data were collected using the Distress Tolerance Scale (Simons & Gaher, 2005), the Core Self-Evaluation Scale (Judge et al., 2003), and the General Self-Efficacy Scale (Sherer et al., 1982). Validity was confirmed by psychology and nursing experts, and reliability was supported by acceptable Cronbach&rsquo;s alpha coefficients. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation, and multiple regression in SPSS version 24.</p> <p lang="en"><strong>Findings</strong> The findings showed a positive and significant relationship between core self-evaluations and distress tolerance (p < 0.05). However, the relationship between self-efficacy and distress tolerance was not significant (p > 0.05). Multiple regression analysis also showed that core self-evaluations significantly predicted distress tolerance, whereas self-efficacy did not.</p> <p lang="en"><strong>Conclusion</strong> Core self-evaluations can effectively predict nurses&rsquo; distress tolerance, whereas self-efficacy does not appear to play a significant role. Strengthening core self-evaluations may improve nurses&rsquo; ability to cope with psychological stress and enhance job performance.</p> ,Core self-evaluation,self-efficacy,distress tolerance,paediatric ward nurses 1001 1007 http://jccs.yums.ac.ir/browse.php?a_code=A-10-380-2&slc_lang=en&sid=1 Khadijeh Hatamipour kh.hatamipour@iau.ac.ir 10031947532846006503 10031947532846006503 No Parya Moeinifar hatamipour.kh@gmail.com 10031947532846006504 10031947532846006504 No Hoora Nabizadeh hoora.nabizadeh@iau.ir 10031947532846006505 10031947532846006505 Yes