International Nursing: Research on the Correlation Between Empathy and China's Big Five Personality Theory: Implications for Nursing Leaders

Personality disorder functioning styles and empathy in trainee nurses: the mediating and moderating roles of death attitudes

BACKGROUND

There is abundant evidence that an individual's personality traits may influence their level of empathy. However, the role of death attitudes in the relationship between personality disorder functioning styles of nurses and their empathy remains to be elucidated.

METHODS

Personality disorder functioning styles, death attitudes, and empathy levels were assessed in 614 Chinese trainee nurses using the Parker Personality Measure (PERM), the Death Attitude Scale-Revised (DAP-R), and the Jefferson Scale of Empathy-Health Professionals (JSE-HP).

RESULTS

Among the trainee nurses, DAP-R Fear of Death, Death Avoidance, Escape Acceptance, Approach Acceptance, and Neutral Acceptance(-) partially mediated the negative correlations between all PERM styles except Obsessive-compulsive style and empathy. Furthermore, DAP-R Fear of Death, Escape Acceptance, and Approach Acceptance fully mediated that between Obsessive-compulsive style and empathy. Fear of Death and Death Avoidance attenuated empathy among those with higher Narcissistic and Dependent styles, respectively.

CONCLUSION

Death attitudes served as a mediator and moderator in the relationships between personality disorder functioning styles and empathy among trainee nurses, suggesting the need for targeted death education among early-career nurses with personality dysfunctions.

The Empathy Level and Its Associated Factors Among Nursing Assistants in Long-Term Care Facilities

AIM

This study aimed to investigate empathy levels among nursing assistants (NAs) in long-term care facilities (LTCFs) and identify factors associated with empathy levels.

DESIGN

A cross-sectional national study.

METHODS

We recruited 512 NAs from 232 LTCFs across Taiwan. Participants completed structured questionnaires including information on demographic characteristics and the Jefferson Scale of Empathy-Health Professions version (JSE-HP). The data were collected from April to July 2023.

RESULTS

The average JSE-HP score among NAs was 101.46 ± 14.05. Empathy levels were significantly associated with several factors, including age, educational background, religious beliefs, economic status, length of work experience, and prior empathy training or courses. A multiple linear regression analysis identified age, educational level, economic status, and prior empathy training as significant predictors of empathy levels among NAs.

CONCLUSIONS

The findings of this study revealed that NAs in LTCFs in Taiwan exhibited low levels of empathy. NAs, who were older, had higher educational levels, had a better economic status, and had previous empathy training or courses demonstrated higher levels of empathy.

IMPACT

Empathy is vital in caregiving, and it is crucial to urgently address and enhance empathy among NAs. Future research should focus on developing targeted interventions to improve empathy levels of NAs within LTCFs.

PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION

No patient or public contribution.

Self-awareness, empathy, and patient-centered care among critical care nurses in Jordan

Self-awareness, empathy, and patient-centered care are essential components for nurses for improving nurse-patient relationship and providing high-quality care for the patients. There is limited research regarding these components among critical care nurses in Arab countries, including Jordan. Thus, this study purposed to evaluate the self-awareness, empathy, and patient-centered care among critical care nurses in Jordan. A cross-sectional, descriptive correlational design was applied. Data were collected from 140 registered nurses from six hospitals in different health sectors. Findings showed that the mean scores for self-awareness, empathy and patient-centered care were as follows: 1.92 (SD = 0.27), 4.87 (SD = 0.88), and 3.71 (SD = 0.80), respectively. These results indicate that nurses had a high level of self-awareness and empathy and a low level of patient-centered care. There was no relationship between self-awareness and socio-demographic variables, perceived stress, and social support. Also, there was a positive relationship between empathy and social support (r = 0.310, p < 0.001). Patient-centered care had a positive relationship with social support (r = 0.202, p < 0.05) and perceived stress (r = 0.175, p < 0.05), also, male nurses had higher patient-centered care than female encounters. Social support was a predictor of empathy, while social support and perceived stress were the main predictors for patient-centered care. The results of the study reflect the need for educational programs to promote self-awareness and empathy to enhance patient-centered care and achieve high-quality patient care. Additionally, correlating factors with PCC (social support and perceived stress) should be taken into consideration upon implementing any interventional programs.

The Basic Empathy Scale: Evidence of Internal Structure in the Brazilian Context

Abstract This study aimed to investigate evidence for the internal structure of the 20 item Basic Empathy Scale (BES-20), and verify the parameters of each of its items. The participants totaled 300 subjects from the community sample who answered both the BES-20 and demographic questions. The results indicated a two-factor measure involving: affective empathy (α = .84 and ω =.84) and cognitive empathy (α =.84 and ω =.84). Analyses using Item Response Theory demonstrated that the items of the BES-20 properly discriminated between participants, requiring low levels of latent trait for agreement/checking-off responses in each category. In addition, we developed a 10 item (short-form) version (BES-10) which when compared to the full version yielded equivalent psychometric parameters and information scores. Overall, both the BES-20 and BES-10 were confirmed as qualified for psychometric use in future studies to measure empathy in Brazil.

Design and Initial Validation of a Humanistic Care Evaluation Tool

Objective

This study aimed at developing and validating a humanistic care tool in Anhui province that could be used across Chinese public hospitals, and to reflect the humanistic care from patients’ perspective.

Participants

A cross-sectional survey was conducted in three public hospitals of Anhui Province, China by adopting simple random sampling, which included 312 outpatients and 323 inpatients.

Methods

The dimensions of the tool were set according to “Further Improve Medical Service Action Plan” in China and Patient-Doctor Relationship Questionnaire. Cronbach’s alpha values were calculated and used to evaluate the reliability of this tool. Construct validity was tested by the exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). The associations between characteristics and humanistic care were analyzed by binary logistic regression.

Results

These initial findings showed that about two-thirds of the respondents experienced humanistic care. Both the reliability and construct validity of the humanistic care evaluation tool were suitable Social aspects (location and yearly income), treatment style and having a regular doctor were significantly associated with better humanistic care (all P<0.05).

Conclusion

The humanistic care tool can directly reflect the humanistic care from patients’ perspective, and can be popularized and applied across Chinese public hospitals. These findings have important implications to further improve medical service in Chinese public hospitals.

Empathy, Affect and Personality as Predictors of Engagement in Nursing Professionals

BACKGROUND

It seems that personality traits affect engagement and the quality of professional life, which is mediated by the emotional and affective states of nursing personnel. Therefore, the objectives of this study were to analyze the relationships between the components of empathy, affect, personality, and engagement, find personality profiles, identify the variables with the most explanatory value, and analyze the mediating role of the variables susceptible to intervention in the relationship between personality and the components of engagement.

METHODS

A sample of 1268 nurses completed the Utrecht Work Engagement Scale, 10-item Big Five Inventory, Basic Empathy Scale, and Positive and Negative Affect Schedule.

RESULTS

Empathy, affect, and personality influence engagement factors in nurses. The vigor and absorption factors of engagement showed a positive relationship with empathy, positive affect, and all of the Big Five personality factors except neuroticism with which the relationship was negative. Personality affected the vigor, dedication, and absorption factors of engagement, and cognitive empathy mediated this relationship.

CONCLUSIONS

This study shows the need to continue investigating the factors that affect and mediate in engagement of nursing professionals.