Abstract
The issues of personality and its relations with the level of empathetic sensibility of medical doctors are broadly discussed in the literature. The aim of this study was an assessment of personality related predictors of empathy indicators in female and male students of medicine with consideration of gender differences. Methods applied were Empathic Sensitiveness Scale (ESS) and Personality Inventory (NEO-PI-R). The study included 153 participants, who were students of the fifth year of medical studies. Students filled in questionnaires during workshops in clinical psychological skills. Participation in the study was voluntary and anonymous. The statistical analysis was performed using Statistica 13 PL and PS IMAGO PRO (SPSS). Linear regression analysis with the interaction component was performed to explore the relationship between personality factors and gender and their interaction with the variable dependent level of empathy. The analysis showed that Extraversion, Openness and Agreeableness are associated with the level of Empathic Concern. Neuroticism, Extraversion, Agreeableness and Conscientiousness are associated with the level of Personal Distress. Extraversion, Openness, Agreeableness and Conscientiousness are associated with the level of Perspective-taking. The regression analysis with the interactive component showed that there is no relationship between gender and the level of empathy, therefore the interactions were insignificant. Empathetic sensibility is related to personality dimensions of the students of medicine. Although there has been no interaction among chief personality dimensions, empathy indicators and gender, detailed analysis of personality dimensions’ components has shown differences between men and women.
Highlights
Enhancement of empathic attitude towards patients in medical doctors is one of the most important challenges in education [1, 2]
The analysis showed that Extraversion, Openness and Agreeableness are associated with the level of Empathic Concern
Neuroticism, Extraversion, Agreeableness and Conscientiousness are associated with the level of Personal Distress
Summary
Enhancement of empathic attitude towards patients in medical doctors is one of the most important challenges in education [1, 2]. Davis defines empathy as a way of reacting to other people’s experiences and highlights its cognitive and emotional components. In his theory, a cognitive aspect of empathy (Perspective Taking, PT) refers to the ability of taking the perspective of another person. There are two affective components related to emotional reactions to suffering and painful experiences of other people. The first one, Empathetic Concern (EC) is related to the ability to experience interest and care, the second one, Personal Distress (PD) describes the degree to which an individual experiences discomfort and anxiety when faced with someone’s adverse experiences. Defined empathy and its dimensions can be measured by Davis’s questionnaire Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI) with its subscales: PT, EC, PD
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