Impact of Perceived Empathic Self-Efficacy on Perceived Social Self-Efficacy: a Cross-Sectional Study Among Prospective Health Workers
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.32999/2663-970X/2025-14-8Keywords:
empathy, sociability, employees’ emotions, employees’ attitudes, employees’ behavior, healthcareAbstract
In order to be successful in business life, emotional characteristics are also needed in addition to the specific physical characteristics required from employees. The empathic and social self-efficacy levels of healthcare professionals are important for job success in healthcare organizations. A highly empathic and social self-efficacy healthcare professional will deliver effective service by establishing good communication and approaching the patient by understanding their conditions. Similarly, since the emotional awareness of a healthcare professional with a high level of empathic and social self-efficacy will be high, coordination with colleagues will be easy. This study aims to measure the empathic and social self-efficacy perceptions that reveal the humanistic skills of students receiving education in the healthcare field and to create a resource by revealing the relationship between them. In this way, delivering health services, which is a team effort, will be easier and more harmonious, and the service’s success will increase. Methods. For the current study, a survey was applied to 374 healthcare professional candidates. The research objective was achieved by utilizing the “Perceived Empathic Self-efficacy and Social Self-efficacy Scale” as the primary assessment instrument. The data obtained in the study were analyzed using SPSS and LISREL programs. Results. Based on the findings, a positive and moderate relationship (r=0.58) was observed between perceived empathic and social self-efficacy. It is seen that empathic self-efficacy and social self-efficacy perceived by health worker candidates do not differ according to gender, class, and age variables. Discussion and Conclusions. Perceived empathic self-efficacy positively affects perceived social self-efficacy. It is seen that perceived empathic self-efficacy explains approximately 34% of the change in perceived social self-efficacy. Future research should expand on the relationship between empathy and social self-efficacy by including diverse professional groups and additional variables, such as emotion blindness or emotional intelligence. This will provide a deeper understanding of how these factors contribute to professional success.
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