Correlation of empathic abilities and stress resistance of medical students

Abstract

As a result of determining empathic abilities (according to the method of V.V. Boyko) and stress resistance (according to the method of Yu.V. Shcherbatykh), it was found in 94 students of the medical faculty of VSMU that these parameters correlate with each other and have gender differences: respondents of both sexes have a well-developed rational channel of empathy, empathy-enhancing skills, and empathy penetrating ability, however, girls in addition to this have higher characteristics of emotional and intuitive channels of empathy and empathy identification. At the same time, they demonstrate greater stress sensitivity. During the period of study at the university, the level of empathy in girls practically does not change, while in boys it increases. Sensitivity to stress somewhat increases, especially in young men. The correlation of this indicator with the empathic abilities of students is also more significant in young men, who have a direct correlation connection of medium strength with attitudes that promote empathy, and a strong one with the intuitive channel of empathy. In girls, a correlation was established only with penetrating ability in empathy (direct, medium strength). As a result, the correlation of the total indicators of empathy and stress sensitivity was registered only in young men, and it was expressed to a great extent at that. In its turn, the total indicator of empathy in young men strongly correlates with such parameter of stress sensitivity as an increased reaction to circumstances that cannot be influenced upon. With a tendency to unnecessarily complicate everything and destructive ways of overcoming stress, a connection was found in both boys and girls. Unlike boys, girls show a very strong correlation with the indicator of constructive ways to cope with stress. The obtained data on the relationship between empathic abilities and sensitivity to stress can be used in the educational process as a justification for the need to increase the stress resistance of future doctors and to open its new direction – the formation of their ability to empathize.

Keywords

• empathy
• stress tolerance
• medical students