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The Relationship Between Empathy and Emotional Intelligence Among Iranian Nursing Students Publisher Pubmed



Hajibabaee F1 ; A Farahani M2 ; Ameri Z3 ; Salehi T4 ; Hosseini F5
Authors
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Authors Affiliations
  1. 1. Nursing and Midwifery School, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Iran
  2. 2. Nursing Care Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Iran
  3. 3. School of Nursing and Midwifery, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Iran
  4. 4. School of Nursing and Midwifery, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Iran
  5. 5. School of Health Management and Information Sciences, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Iran

Source: International journal of medical education Published:2018


Abstract

Objectives: To determine the relationship between empathy and emotional intelligence among Iranian nursing students. Methods: This is a cross-sectional, descriptive-correlational study that was conducted on three hundred and twenty eligible students, selected using stratified random sampling. Participants were mainly nursing students at Tehran University of Medical Sciences. Data gathering was done using The Jefferson Scale of Empathy and The Schutte Self Report Emotional Intelligence Test. Data were analyzed using SPSS. Results: The results showed a strong positive correlation between empathy and emotional intelligence (r=0.499, p <.001). Students in their fourth year had the highest score for empathy (M=109.16, SD=10.16), while first-year students had the highest scores for emotional intelligence (M= 151.68, SD= 17.47). Female students got higher empathy scores than male students (t(318)= 2.524, p= .012). Age had a strong inverse correlation with emotional intelligence (r= 0.143, p= .010). Conclusions: The results of this study show a correlation between emotional intelligence and empathy among nursing students. Nurses with higher emotional intelligence tend to be better in establishing productive relationships with patients and their families, and if nurses possess empathetic skills, they manage their emotions more effectively. In addition to imparting knowledge and clinical experience, nursing curricula should provide students with opportunities to develop their communication and emotional skills.