The Effects of the Empathy Levels of Midwifery Students on Their Caring Behaviors

Abstract

Purpose. This study was conducted to investigate the effects of the empathy levels of midwifery students on their caring behaviors. Design and Methods. This descriptive study was carried out with 225 midwifery students. The data were collected via the Participant Information Form, the Midwifery Empathy Scale-Revised, and the Caring Behaviors Inventory-24. Findings. The mean Midwifery Empathy Scale-Revised score was 63.64 ± 7.47, which showed moderate levels of empathy. The mean Caring Behaviors Inventory-24 score was 5.13 ± 0.84, and this showed good levels of caring behaviors. In this study, the empathy was determined to explain 17% of the total variance in the caring behaviors (F = 45.371, R2 = 0.170; p = 0.001 ). Practise Implications. The empathy levels of students affect their caring behaviors positively.

Empathy and Nursing

“…It allows nurses to understand their patients more accurately and meet their needs effectively. (10) It also allows for effective communication-it is a vital part of therapeutic communication and is valuable for the development of a meaningful relationship between the nurse and the patient. It facilitates trust and makes the patient more comfortable in disclosing information.…”