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Androgyny predicts empathy for trainees in medicine
P R Yarnold1, G J Martin, R C Soltysik
1Division of General Internal Medicine, Northwestern University Medical School, Chicago, IL 60611.
Perceptual and Motor Skills
|October 1, 1993
Summary
Scores on androgyny measures predict empathy in medical trainees, but accuracy for sympathetic responses is modest. Further research into this relationship is recommended.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Medical Education
Background:
- Androgyny, the integration of masculine and feminine traits, is increasingly studied in relation to psychological constructs.
- Empathy is a critical skill for healthcare professionals, influencing patient care and outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the predictive relationship between androgyny and empathy in a medical student and resident population.
- To assess the accuracy of androgyny scores in predicting different facets of empathy, including sympathetic responses.
Main Methods:
- Data were collected from 65 medical students and residents.
- Statistical analysis was employed to determine the predictive accuracy of androgyny measures on empathy indices.
Main Results:
- A significant positive correlation was found, supporting androgyny's predictive role in empathy.
- The predictive accuracy for sympathetic responses was notably modest, suggesting a nuanced relationship.
Conclusions:
- Androgyny scores demonstrate a predictive capacity for empathy among medical trainees.
- The predictive power for sympathetic responses warrants further investigation and may be influenced by other factors.