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Moral Sensitivity, Empathy and Prosocial Behavior: Implications for Humanization of Nursing Care

Author

Listed:
  • Iván Suazo

    (Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Autónoma de Chile, Providencia 7500912, Chile)

  • María del Carmen Pérez-Fuentes

    (Department of Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, University of Almería, 04120 Almería, Spain
    Department of Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, Universidad Politécnica y Artística del Paraguay, Asunción 1628, Paraguay)

  • María del Mar Molero Jurado

    (Department of Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, University of Almería, 04120 Almería, Spain)

  • África Martos Martínez

    (Department of Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, University of Almería, 04120 Almería, Spain)

  • María del Mar Simón Márquez

    (Department of Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, University of Almería, 04120 Almería, Spain)

  • Ana Belén Barragán Martín

    (Department of Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, University of Almería, 04120 Almería, Spain)

  • Maria Sisto

    (Department of Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, University of Almería, 04120 Almería, Spain)

  • José Jesús Gázquez Linares

    (Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Autónoma de Chile, Providencia 7500912, Chile)

Abstract

Humanization of nursing is related to certain social and moral variables. Moral sensitivity, empathy, and prosocial behavior help understand a situation and make decisions that benefit the patient. The objective of this study is to find out how these variables are related, and define the differences in moral sensitivity, empathy, and prosocial behavior in humanization of nursing. We also analyzed the mediating role of empathy in the relationship between moral sensitivity and prosocial behavior. The sample was made up of 330 Spanish nurses aged 22 to 56, who completed the HUMAS Scale and adapted versions of the Basic Empathy Scale, the Moral Sensitivity Questionnaire, and the Prosocial Behavior Scale. Descriptive analyses, bivariate correlations and multiple mediation models were calculated. The results found significantly different mean scores between all the groups in responsibility and moral strength, cognitive empathy, and prosocial behavior, and in moral burden, the differences were in the high-humanization-score group compared to the low-score group. Furthermore, the mediation models showed the mediating effect of cognitive empathy between the responsibility, strength, and moral burden factors on prosocial behavior, but not of affective empathy. The study concluded that humanization in nursing is closely related to moral sensitivity, cognitive empathy, and prosocial behavior. This facilitates a helping, caring, and understanding attitude toward patient needs, but without the affective flooding that affective empathy can lead to.

Suggested Citation

  • Iván Suazo & María del Carmen Pérez-Fuentes & María del Mar Molero Jurado & África Martos Martínez & María del Mar Simón Márquez & Ana Belén Barragán Martín & Maria Sisto & José Jesús Gázquez Linares, 2020. "Moral Sensitivity, Empathy and Prosocial Behavior: Implications for Humanization of Nursing Care," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(23), pages 1-14, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:17:y:2020:i:23:p:8914-:d:454065
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Ruttan, Rachel L. & Lucas, Brian J., 2018. "Cogs in the machine: The prioritization of money and self-dehumanization," Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, Elsevier, vol. 149(C), pages 47-58.
    2. María del Carmen Pérez-Fuentes & Iván Herera-Peco & María del Mar Molero Jurado & Nieves Fátima Oropesa Ruiz & Diego Ayuso-Murillo & José Jesús Gázquez Linares, 2019. "The Development and Validation of the Healthcare Professional Humanization Scale (HUMAS) for Nursing," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(20), pages 1-13, October.
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    Cited by:

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    2. Yiyu Yi & Qianbao Tan & Jiahui Liu & Fuqun Liang & Chao Liu & Zhenbiao Yin, 2022. "The Mechanism of Cumulative Ecological Risk Affecting College Students’ Sense of Social Responsibility: The Double Fugue Effect of Belief in a Just World and Empathy," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(1), pages 1-18, December.

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