An Investigation of Empathic Tendencies and Self-Concepts of Secondary School Students

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate empathic tendencies and self-concepts of secondary school students (6, 7 and 8th graders) according to certain variables and possible relationships between empathic tendency and self-concept. Data were collected by means of the General Information Form, KA-SI Empathic Tendency Scale for Children and Adolescents-Adolescent Form, and Piers-Harris Children's Self Concept Scale. To analyze the data, Kolmogorov-Smirnov test, two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), Scheffe test were done and correlation coefficients were calculated. Results of the study showed that type of school attendance and gender had significant effect on the " Emotional Empathy " and " Cognitive Empathy " sub-scores and the " Total Empathy " scores. Grade level had significant impact on the " Cognitive Empathy " sub-score, though. It was determined that type of attendance and grade level had significant effect on the " Self-Concept " score. For all three types of school attendance, positive correlations were found between the " Cognitive Empathy " and " Total Empathy " scores and the " Self-Concept " score. Extended Abstract Purpose and Significance: Being empathic is a positive trait. It can affect close relationships positively, which contributes to health, and thus protects the individuality of the child and supports his growth. Therefore, it seems important to support development of empathic skills and self-concept of children at the secondary school level (Grades 6, 7 and 8). For this reason, the study aims to investiate empathic tendencies and self-concepts of secondary school students (6, 7 and 8th graders) in both regional boarding school and secondary schools according to certain variables and possible relationships between empathic tendency and self-concept. Method: The correlational survey design was used in the study conducted on 397 students (191 females and 206 males) attending the regional boarding school and a secondary school in Kayseri, Turkey. Data were screened to check for invalid cases and 48 of all were deleted. Hence, further analyses were based upon the data from 349 students (176 females and 173 males). Data were collected by means of the General Information Form, KA-SI Empathic Tendency Scale for Children and Adolescents – Adolescent Form developed by Kaya and Siyez (2010) and the Piers-Harris Children's Self-Concept Scale. To analyze the data, two-way analyses of variance (ANOVA) were used. The Scheffe test was employed to make multiple comparisons between groups that significantly differ from each other. Furthermore, correlation coefficients were