Gifts of giving: the role of empathy and perceived benefits to others and self in young adults' decisions to become organ donors.
Trait empathy and self-interest exert a strong influence on different prosocial behaviors, but their role in the promotion of organ donation registration is unclear. A survey examined how perceived benefits of organ donation for others and the self affect people's willingness to register as donors. Perceived other-benefits did not predict registration. Those with lower risk and greater self-benefit perceptions were more willing to donate. Empathic concern predicted donation willingness and moderated the effect of other-benefit perceptions, such that other-benefit perceptions predicted donation willingness among those with greater empathic concern. Applications of these findings to organ donation promotion are discussed.
Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA 30302-4000, USA. epalnau@gsu.edu
Elizabeth L
EL
Cohen
Cynthia
C
Hoffner
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000533:Altruism; D003657:Decision Making; D004645:Empathy; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012044:Regression Analysis; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014019:Tissue Donors / Q000523:psychology*; D009927:Tissue and Organ Procurement; D014481:United States; D055815:Young Adult