Factors Influencing Empathy in Nursing Students in Korea

Abstract

Purpose The purpose of the study was to explore the levels of self-awareness, assertiveness, life stress, and empathy in nursing students and identify influential factors on empathy. Methods A predictive correlational design was used. The data was collected by questionnaires from a convenience sample of 319 nursing students in 2014 in Korea. The data was analyzed using descriptive statistics, t-test, ANOVA, Pearson correlation coefficients, and stepwise multiple regression. Results The mean items scores of self-awareness, assertiveness, life stress, and empathy were 3.49, 3.02, 2.20 and 3.58, respectively, of a possible score ranging from 1 to 5. Empathy significantly differed by gender, grade, satisfaction with nursing as a major, and clinical practice experience. Empathy was correlated with self-awareness and interpersonal relationship stress. As a result of multiple regression analysis, empathy accounted for 20.1% of the variance by self-awareness, gender, clinical practice experience and interpersonal relationship stress. The most important factor was self-awareness, which explained 11.6% of the variation. Conclusion The results of the study reveal that strengthening self-awareness and relieving interpersonal relationship stress ought to be integrated in developing effective educational intervention for enhancing empathy in nursing students. Keywords: Students, Empathy, Awareness, Assertiveness, Stressful life events 주요어: 학생, 공감, 자기인식, 자기주장, ìƒí™œìŠ¤íŠ¸ë ˆìŠ¤