Emotional Empathy and Altruism among Health Professionals
- Author:
Saira Khan
1
;
Marriam Ihsan
1
;
Sehrish Farooq
2
;
Muhammad Maqsood Iqbal
3
;
Marriam Rubab M
1
Author Information
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords: Emotional Empathy; Altruism; Health Professional
- From:ASEAN Journal of Psychiatry 2022;23(no.2):1-6
- CountryMalaysia
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Objective:In the present study the empathy-altruism hypothesis was studied. According to empathy-altruism hypothesis, altruistic acts stimulated by empathy, are directed to improve another person's welfare. Purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship of the emotional empathy and altruism and to determine the predictive power of emotional empathy for altruism among health professionals.
Methods:Correlational and cross-sectional research designs were used for the present study. Sample size was estimated through G*power and 200 health professionals (100 MBBS and 100 BDS) were taken from different government and private hospitals and health institutes through purposive sampling technique. Age range of participants was 24-35 years (M=31.45, SD=3.39). Bio data form, Multidimensional Emotional Empathy Scale and Helping attitude scale were used to get demographic information and to assess the emotional empathy and altruistic behaviour respectively of health professionals. Data were analysed by using SPSS 23.
Results:Results of the present study showed strong and positive relationship between emotional empathy and altruism among health professionals. Hierarchical regression analysis was run to find the predictive power of emotional empathy for altruistic behaviour of the health professionals. After controlling age, gender, level of education and marital status, emotional empathy emerged as the strong predictor for altruistic behaviour among health professional. Emotional empathy accounted 31.3 % variance for altruistic behaviour. This study can create awareness about the role of health professionals and their behaviour towards patients. Health professional’s emotional empathy is the compulsory factors for defining their attitude towards their patients.
Conclusion:Emotional empathy plays an important role in the altruistic attributes of health professionals. Some training programs must be arranged to enhance their emotional empathy - Full text:202410101148517004517.2022my0010.pdf
