Relationship between empathy ability and perceived social support in military college students / 中国心理卫生杂志

ABSTRACT

objective: To investigate the status of empathy ability and perceived social support in military college students, and to explore the relationship between empathy ability and perceived social support. Methods: A total of 472 college students were selected from 5 military academies. The Interpersonal Reactivity Index-C (IRI-C) and Perceived Social Support Scale (PSSS) were used to evaluate the empathy ability and the perceived social support ability of military college students. Results: The total scores of IRI-C and PSSS were (51. 2 ± 10. 8) and (65. 8 ±11. 5), respectively. The total scores of PSSS and its three dimensions (family support, friend support and other support) were positively correlated with the total scores of IRI-C and its three dimensions (empathy concern, perspective taking and fantasy) (r = 0. 19-0. 35, Ps ＜ 0. 01). The scores of empathy concern and perspective taking could positively predict the total scores of PSSS (β = 0. 29, P ＜ 0. 001; β = 0. 15, P ＜ 0. 001). Conclusion: It suggests that the empathy ability of military college students is at the middle level. Empathy ability could predict perceived social support in military college students.