Empathy and COVID-19: Study in Professionals and Students of the Social Health Field in Ecuador

Empathy and COVID-19: Study in Professionals and Students of the Social Health Field in Ecuador

Empathy plays a fundamental role in health related occupations. In this study, we analysed empathy levels in professionals (117) and students (170) from various healthcare fields in Ecuador during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Interpersonal Reactivity Index was used in an online survey. The results sho...

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Main Authors: Ana J. Cañas-Lerma, M. Elena Cuartero-Castañer, Guido Mascialino, Paula Hidalgo-Andrade
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2021-01-01
Series:International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
Subjects:
empathy
COVID-19
health personnel
university students
Ecuador
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/18/1/338
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spelling doaj-7697ca9780eb4ce28923df773e951da32021-01-06T00:02:01ZengMDPI AGInternational Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health1661-78271660-46012021-01-011833833810.3390/ijerph18010338Empathy and COVID-19: Study in Professionals and Students of the Social Health Field in EcuadorAna J. Cañas-Lerma0M. Elena Cuartero-Castañer1Guido Mascialino2Paula Hidalgo-Andrade3Philosophy and Social Work Department, Universitat de les Illes Balears, Crta. Valldemossa Km 7.5., 07122 Palma, SpainPhilosophy and Social Work Department, Universitat de les Illes Balears, Crta. Valldemossa Km 7.5., 07122 Palma, SpainSchool of Psychology, Universidad de Las Américas, Av. de los Granados E-12-41 y Colimes esq., Quito EC170125, EcuadorSchool of Psychology, Universidad de Las Américas, Av. de los Granados E-12-41 y Colimes esq., Quito EC170125, EcuadorEmpathy plays a fundamental role in health related occupations. In this study, we analysed empathy levels in professionals (117) and students (170) from various healthcare fields in Ecuador during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Interpersonal Reactivity Index was used in an online survey. The results show high levels of empathy in both groups, influenced by age and gender. The students presented higher levels of personal distress, and their age was negatively correlated to empathy. Additionally, professionals working in physical health scored higher levels of personal distress compared to those in the field of emotional health. COVID-19 has placed social health systems in great stress. Despite this, the personal capacities for empathy of both students and health professionals have not been diminished.https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/18/1/338empathyCOVID-19health personneluniversity studentsEcuador
collection DOAJ
language English
format Article
sources DOAJ
author Ana J. Cañas-Lerma
M. Elena Cuartero-Castañer
Guido Mascialino
Paula Hidalgo-Andrade
spellingShingle Ana J. Cañas-Lerma
M. Elena Cuartero-Castañer
Guido Mascialino
Paula Hidalgo-Andrade
Empathy and COVID-19: Study in Professionals and Students of the Social Health Field in Ecuador
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
empathy
COVID-19
health personnel
university students
Ecuador
author_facet Ana J. Cañas-Lerma
M. Elena Cuartero-Castañer
Guido Mascialino
Paula Hidalgo-Andrade
author_sort Ana J. Cañas-Lerma
title Empathy and COVID-19: Study in Professionals and Students of the Social Health Field in Ecuador
title_short Empathy and COVID-19: Study in Professionals and Students of the Social Health Field in Ecuador
title_full Empathy and COVID-19: Study in Professionals and Students of the Social Health Field in Ecuador
title_fullStr Empathy and COVID-19: Study in Professionals and Students of the Social Health Field in Ecuador
title_full_unstemmed Empathy and COVID-19: Study in Professionals and Students of the Social Health Field in Ecuador
title_sort empathy and covid-19: study in professionals and students of the social health field in ecuador
publisher MDPI AG
series International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
issn 1661-7827
1660-4601
publishDate 2021-01-01
description Empathy plays a fundamental role in health related occupations. In this study, we analysed empathy levels in professionals (117) and students (170) from various healthcare fields in Ecuador during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Interpersonal Reactivity Index was used in an online survey. The results show high levels of empathy in both groups, influenced by age and gender. The students presented higher levels of personal distress, and their age was negatively correlated to empathy. Additionally, professionals working in physical health scored higher levels of personal distress compared to those in the field of emotional health. COVID-19 has placed social health systems in great stress. Despite this, the personal capacities for empathy of both students and health professionals have not been diminished.
topic empathy
COVID-19
health personnel
university students
Ecuador
url https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/18/1/338
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AT guidomascialino empathyandcovid19studyinprofessionalsandstudentsofthesocialhealthfieldinecuador
AT paulahidalgoandrade empathyandcovid19studyinprofessionalsandstudentsofthesocialhealthfieldinecuador
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