The relationship between empathic tendencies and altruistic behaviours in adolescents

Abstract

Background This study aimed to examine the relationship between the empathic tendencies and altruistic behaviours of adolescents. Methods This descriptive and correlational study was conducted with 323 high school students in the 2017–2018 academic year. Data were collected using a sociodemographic characteristics form, the altruism scale and the empathic tendency scale. Descriptive statistics were evaluated using the bivariate correlation test and the linear regression test. Results The mean age of the participants was 16.06 ± 1.19 (min = 14, max = 20), and 50.8% of them were female. The adolescents' mean scores on the empathic tendency and altruism scales were 65.71 ± 9.08 and 67.84 ± 9.25, respectively. A statistically significant moderate positive relation was found between the adolescents' empathic tendencies and their altruistic behaviours (r = 0.369, p = 0.000). Conclusions The empathic tendency skills and altruistic behaviours of adolescents who participated in this study were at a good level. It is important to plan and apply educational programmes that develop adolescents' empathic tendencies and altruistic behaviours and to teach them positive social behaviours such as altruism.

Evidence to the Need for a Unifying Framework: Critical Consciousness and Moral Education in Adolescents Facilitate Altruistic Behaviour in the Community

“…In the same vein, Post [ 40 ] refers to altruists as persons doing something for the other’s sake rather than securing his or her well-being (p. 53), while Batson [ 41 ] (p. 606) emphasises the goal of altruistic behaviour, namely “increasing the welfare of one or more individuals other than oneself”. Recent studies add new evidence to the body of research underlining the positive connection of altruistic behaviour in adolescents with empathic concern and empathic skills [ 42 , 43 , 44 ], as well as emotional intelligence [ 45 , 46 ]. On the other hand, effects of altruism on adolescents’’ well-being are captured in studies highlighting that altruistic behaviour results in improved life satisfaction, as the ultimate outcome of higher school satisfaction and more positive emotional state [ 47 , 48 ].…”