Emotional and Cognitive Empathy in First-Year Medical Students

Abstract

Objectives. Doctors' empathy towards their patients is considered important for treatment outcome. However, during medical school there might be a decline in empathy called “hardening of the heart.” This study evaluated the cognitive and emotional empathy in medical students and investigated the influence of a preference for a specialty and students attachment styles. Methods. 126 first-year medical students were included and completed the Reading the Mind in the Eyes Test revised version (RME-R), the Balanced Emotional Empathy Scale (BEES), and the Experiences in Close Relationships-Revised Adult Attachment Questionnaire (ECR-R). Results. Students identified 22 ± 4.30 of 36 photographs in the RME-R test correctly (norm: 26). The female students' mean BEES total score was 51.1 ± 17.1 and the male students' 27.2 ± 22.6; P < 0.0001. The female students' mean BEES score was significantly (P = 0.0037) below the female norm of 60. Students who preferred a specialty with continuity of patient care scored significantly higher in the BEES (P = 0.014). A more avoidant attachment style was associated with a lower BEES score (P = 0.021). Conclusion. The students showed low emotional and cognitive empathy scores and an avoidant attachment style. This supports the inclusion of specific training in cognitive and emotional empathy in medical education.

Mindfulness in healthcare professionals and medical education

“…Paradoxically, however, students report being overloaded with activities, and burdened with constant stress and a sense of competition. According to some research, medical students also show low emotional and cognitive empathy scores, and an avoidant attachment style [35]. This may increase burnout and decrease the ability to connect with patients [36].…”

The eyes test is influenced more by artistic inclination and less by sex

“…For this reason, we planned a second experiment in which we assessed other aspects that might be important in determining proficiency in understanding social emotions. Similar to the studies on empathy performed by (Dehning et al, 2013 , 2014 ), in which the authors took into account professional choice hypothesizing that surgeons are less empathetic than psychiatrists (Dehning et al, 2014 ), we considered artistic attitude. We hypothesized that artists would be more empathetic and also more able to understand social emotions than non artists of the same age and the same level of education.…”

“…Other individual differences are related to personality traits that drive people in choosing a profession. Specifically, a study found that surgeons are less empathetic than psychiatrists (Dehning et al, 2013 ). Moreover, another study found that higher levels of empathy drive the choice of first-year medical students and their preference for a specialty with continuous patient care (Dehning et al, 2014 ).…”

Contributions of Neuroscience to a New Empathy Epistemology: Implications for Developmental Training

“…The assumption is that Socratic styles are not compatible with empathy development. To support this, one study observed that physician empathy tended to decrease as the physician became more professionally educated (Dehning et al, 2013). Actual interpersonal exchange benefits were confirmed in a study of weight loss for diabetic patients, and empathy practiced in an actual setting brought better client outcomes (Canale et al, 2012).…”