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http://dx.doi.org/10.5977/jkasne.2015.21.2.237

Factors Influencing Empathy in Nursing Students in Korea  

Kim, Haejin (College of Nursing, Seoul National University)
Yi, Myungsun (College of Nursing, Research Institute of Nursing Science, Seoul National University)
Publication Information
The Journal of Korean Academic Society of Nursing Education / v.21, no.2, 2015 , pp. 237-245 More about this Journal
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;
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Times Cited By KSCI : 8  (Citation Analysis)
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