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Gender, empathy, and aggressive behavior toward nurses: A moderation analysis
Hila Hameiri1, Nataly Koren Catran2, Yael Vainshtein3
1Gray Faculty of Medical & Health Sciences, Steyer School of Health Professions, Department of Nursing Sciences, Tel-Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel; Barzilai Academic School of Nursing, Barzilai University Medical Center, Ashqelon, Israel.
Background:
The intersection of gender and empathy remains a pivotal focus in contemporary sociological discourse. Few studies have examined gender differences in aggressive behavior within healthcare settings.
Purpose:
To explore the association between empathy, feelings, thoughts, gender, and aggressive behavior toward nurses, and the role of gender in the association between empathy and aggressive behavior.
Methods:
A cross-sectional study utilized a self-report questionnaire (completed by 555 participants). A three-step hierarchical linear regression was conducted to assess the unique effect of the explanatory variables on aggressive behavior.
Discussion:
Empathy, positive feelings, and negative thoughts were found to explain aggressive behavior. Gender was a moderating factor between empathy and aggressive behavior. The effect was more pronounced among men than women as empathy increased.
Conclusion:
Empathy is a crucial buffer against aggressiveness, with a strong effect among men. Intervention programs may benefit from boosting empathic competencies that address gender-related differences in socialization and emotional expression.
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