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Journal of Religion and Health
Published in: Journal of Religion and Health 3/2017

01-06-2017 | Original Paper

Empathy is Associated with Meaning of Life and Mental Health Treatment but not Religiosity Among Brazilian Medical Students

Authors: Rodolfo Furlan Damiano, Luciana Maria de Andrade Ribeiro, Amanda Guedes dos Santos, Barbara Almeida da Silva, Giancarlo Lucchetti

Published in: Journal of Religion and Health | Issue 3/2017

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Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of spirituality, religiosity, personal beliefs, and previous contact with health issues on the level of empathy in medical students. Jefferson Scale of Empathy—Student Version, WHOQOL-Spirituality, Religiousness and Personal Beliefs, and Duke University Religion Index were applied to 285 Brazilian medical students. The findings suggest that meaning of life and previous mental health treatment but not Religiosity were positively related to empathy. We suggest that more attention should be given for prevention and treatment of mental health issues, and further studies are needed to understand and replicate these findings.
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Metadata
Title
Empathy is Associated with Meaning of Life and Mental Health Treatment but not Religiosity Among Brazilian Medical Students
Authors
Rodolfo Furlan Damiano
Luciana Maria de Andrade Ribeiro
Amanda Guedes dos Santos
Barbara Almeida da Silva
Giancarlo Lucchetti
Publication date
01-06-2017
Publisher
Springer US
Published in
Journal of Religion and Health / Issue 3/2017
Print ISSN: 0022-4197
Electronic ISSN: 1573-6571
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-016-0321-9

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