Resilience and Empathy in Health Science Students

Díaz-Narváez V.P.; Sandoval M.A.; Acosta-Martínez A.A.; Monterroza L.G.; Reyes-Reyes F.; Vilca L.W.; Reyes-Reyes A. · European Journal of Education and Psychology (2025) · DOI: 10.32457/ejep.v18i1.2917

Resumen

Introduction: To determine whether resilience dimensions are able to predict empathy dimensions based on individual resilience scores in a sample of health sciences students. Methods: The sample consisted of 1,093 students from the Faculty of Health Sciences of El Salvador. Descriptive statistics were estimated to characterize the sample and the prediction of the dimensions of resilience on those of empathy was estimated using structural equations. Results: It was found that the Engineering and Adaptive dimensions of resilience negatively predict the Adoption of Perspective and Compassionate Care dimensions of empathy, while the ecological dimension positively predicted the Adoption of Perspective and Compassionate Care dimensions of empathy. Conclusion: Individual resilience is a variable that can influence empathy and predict empathic behaviour in students from different careers or study programmes belonging to a Faculty of Health Sciences. These findings provide empirical evidence supporting the concept that empathy can be defined as a dependent variable regarding individual resilience. It is necessary to introduce training in resilience and empathy in a coordinated manner in the teaching-learning process in health sciences students.

Instituciones: Universidad Señor de Sipán