UNIVERSITY STUDENTS' ATTITUDES TOWARD MENTAL ILLNESS AND THEIR RELATIONSHIP TO EMPATHY

Öz

Objective Mental illnesses are a significant public health problem worldwide. This study aims to determine university students' attitudes toward mental illnesses and examine their relationship with empathy. Material and Method A cross-sectional study was conducted in Turkey between September 2022 and April 2023 through an online survey. In the 2022-2023 academic year, six hundred sixty-six university students completed the questionnaire, including the Sociodemographic Data Form, Beliefs Towards Mental Illness Scale, and Empathy Scale. It was questioned whether the participants had taken a course on mental illness and whether they would share it with someone if they had a mental illness. Results According to gender, the median Empathy Scale score of females was statistically significantly higher than that of males (p=0.085, p=<0.001, respectively). The Beliefs about Mental Illness Scale and Empathy Scale scores did not differ according to the department of study (p=0,097, p=0,150, respectively). Among the medical faculty students, the Beliefs Towards Mental Illness Scale score was statistically significantly higher in students who did not take a psychiatry internship than in those who did (p=0.025). There was a low significant negative correlation between the total score of the Beliefs about Mental Illness Scale and the Empathy Scale score (rho=-0,097; p=0,012). Conclusion University students' attitudes towards mental illnesses differed according to the year of education and the status of taking courses on mental illnesses. It seems that planning training sessions on mental illnesses may positively change attitudes.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Attitudes Toward Mental Illness
• Empathy
• Stigma

ÜNİVERSİTE ÖĞRENCİLERİNİN RUHSAL HASTALIKLARA YÖNELİK TUTUMLARI VE EMPATİ İLE İLİŞKİSİ

Öz

Amaç Ruhsal hastalıklar dünya çapında önemli bir halk sağlığı sorunudur. Bu araştırmada üniversite öğrencilerinin ruhsal hastalıklara yönelik tutumlarını belirlemek ve bunun empati ile ilişkisini incelemek amaçlanmaktadır. Gereç Yöntem Türkiye’de Eylül 2022 ile Nisan 2023 tarihleri arasında çevirimiçi anket aracılığıyla kesitsel bir çalışma gerçekleştirildi. 2022-2023 eğitim öğretim yılında üniversiteye devam eden 666 üniversite öğrencisi Sosyodemografik Veri Formu, Ruhsal Hastalıklara Yönelik İnançlar Ölçeği ve Empati Ölçeğini içeren anketi tamamladılar. Katılımcıların ruhsal hastalıklar ile ilgili ders alıp almadıkları ve kendilerinde bir ruhsal hastalık olduğunda bunu biriyle paylaşıp paylaşmayacakları sorgulandı. Bulgular Cinsiyete göre kadınların Empati Ölçeği ortanca puanı erkeklere göre istatiksel düzeyde anlamlı olarak daha yüksek saptandı (sırasıyla p=0,085, p=<0,001). Öğrencilerin öğrenim gördüğü bölüme göre Ruhsal Hastalığa Yönelik İnançlar Ölçeği ve Empati Ölçeği toplam puanlarının farklılık göstermediği belirlendi (sırasıyla p=0,097, p=0,150). Tıp fakültesi öğrencileri arasında psikiyatri stajı almayan öğrencilerin stajı alanlara göre Ruhsal Hastalığa Yönelik İnançlar Ölçeği toplam puanı istatistiksel olarak anlamlı düzeyde yüksekti (p=0,025). Ruhsal Hastalığa Yönelik İnançlar Ölçeği toplam puanı ile Empati Ölçeği puanı arasında negatif yönde düşük düzeyde anlamlı bir korelasyon bulundu (rho=-0,097; p=0,012). Sonuç Üniversite öğrencilerinin ruhsal hastalıklara karşı tutumları eğitim yılı ve ruhsal hastalıklara yönelik ders alma durumlarına göre farklılık göstermektedir. Ruhsal hastalıklara yönelik eğitim oturumlarının planlanması tutumları olumlu yönde değiştirebilir görünmektedir.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Ruhsal hastalıklara yönelik tutumlar
• Empati
• Damgalanma

Kaynakça

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