Investigation of Occupational Therapy Students' Social Sensitivity, Empathy Skills, and Susceptibility to Ethical Values

Abstract

Purpose: The aim of this study is to examine the relationship between the social sensitivity, empathy skills, and ethical values of the first-year students of the occupational therapy undergraduate programme. Material and Methods: A total of 144 students were included in the study. The sociodemographic information form, the Social Sensitivity Scale (SSS), The Empathy Quotient (EQ), and the Inclination to Ethical Values Scale were applied to individuals who agreed to participate in the study. The relationship between social sensitivity, empathy, and susceptibility to ethical values was examined. Results: There were statistically positive and significant relationships between social sensitivity and ethics (p = 0,002; r = 0,253) and empathy (p = 0.032; r = 0.179) and empathy and ethics (p = 0.001; r = 0.700) in first-year students of the occupational therapy programme. Discussion: In our study, it was concluded that the students studying in the first year of the occupational therapy program have a high level of social sensitivity, high empathy levels, and a predisposition to ethical values. These results were thought to be consistent with the philosophy of occupational therapy. It is important to address the concepts of social sensitivity, predisposition to ethical values, and empathy in occupational therapy training.

Keywords

• empathy
• occupational therapy students
• ethics
• social sensitivity

Ergoterapi Öğrencilerinin Toplumsal Duyarlılığı, Empati Becerileri ve Etik Değerlere Yatkınlığının İncelenmesi

Abstract

Amaç: Bu çalışmanın amacı Ergoterapi Bölümü birinci sınıfta eğitim gören öğrencilerin toplumsal duyarlılık, empati becerileri ve etik değerlere yatkınlıkları arasındaki ilişkinin incelenmesidir. Gereç ve Yöntem: Çalışmaya 144 öğrenci dahil edilmiştir. Çalışmaya katılmayı kabul eden bireylere sosyodemografik bilgi formu, Toplumsal Duyarlılık Ölçeği (TDÖ), Empati Düzeyi Belirleme Ölçeği, (EDBÖ) ve Etik Değerlere Yatkınlık Ölçeği (EDYÖ) uygulanmıştır. Toplumsal duyarlılık, empati ve etik değerlere yatkınlık düzeyleri arasındaki ilişki incelenmiştir. Sonuçlar: Ergoterapi Bölümü birinci sınıfta eğitim gören öğrencilerde toplumsal duyarlılık ile etik (p=0,002; r=0,253) ve empati (p=0,032; r=0,179); ve empati ile etik (p=0,001; r=0,700) arasında pozitif yönde ve istatistiksel açıdan anlamlı düzeyde bir ilişki olduğu saptanmıştır. Tartışma: Çalışmamızda Ergoterapi Bölümü birinci sınıfta eğitim gören öğrencilerin toplumsal duyarlılıklarının, empati düzeylerinin ve etik değerlere yatkınlıklarının yüksek düzeyde olduğu sonucuna ulaşılmıştır. Bu sonuçların, ergoterapinin felsefesi ile uyumlu olduğu düşünülmüştür. Ergoterapi eğitiminde toplumsal duyarlılık, etik değerlere yatkınlık ve empati kavramlarına değinilmesi önemlidir.

Keywords

• Empati
• ergoterapi öğrencileri
• etik
• toplumsal duyarlılık

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