title: Underlying construct of empathy, optimism, and burnout in medical students.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study was designed to explore the underlying construct of measures of empathy, optimism, and burnout in medical students.
  
  
  METHODS
  Three instruments for measuring empathy (Jefferson Scale of Empathy, JSE); Optimism (the Life Orientation Test-Revised, LOT-R); and burnout (the Maslach Burnout Inventory, MBI, which includes three scales of Emotional Exhaustion, Depersonalization, and Personal Accomplishment) were administered to 265 third-year students at Sidney Kimmel (formerly Jefferson) Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University. Data were subjected to factor analysis to examine relationships among measures of empathy, optimism, and burnout in a multivariate statistical model.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Factor analysis (principal component with oblique rotation) resulted in two underlying constructs, each with an eigenvalue greater than one. The first factor involved "positive personality attributes" (factor coefficients greater than .58 for measures of empathy, optimism, and personal accomplishment). The second factor involved "negative personality attributes" (factor coefficients greater than .78 for measures of emotional exhaustion, and depersonalization).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Results confirmed that an association exists between empathy in the context of patient care and personality characteristics that are conducive to relationship building, and considered to be "positive personality attributes," as opposed to personality characteristics that are considered as "negative personality attributes" that are detrimental to interpersonal relationships. Implications for the professional development of physicians-in-training and in-practice are discussed.
authors: Sidney Kimmel (formerly Jefferson) Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, USA.
authors: Mohammadreza
authors: M
authors: Hojat
authors: Danish Sidney Kimmel (formerly Jefferson) Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, USA.
authors: Michael
authors: M
authors: Vergare
authors: Sidney Kimmel (formerly Jefferson) Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, USA.
authors: Gerald
authors: G
authors: Isenberg
authors: Sidney Kimmel (formerly Jefferson) Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, USA.
authors: Mitchell
authors: M
authors: Cohen
authors: Danish Sidney Kimmel (formerly Jefferson) Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, USA.
authors: John
authors: J
authors: Spandorfer
mesh_terms: D000124:Achievement; D000328:Adult; D000339:Affect; D002055:Burnout, Professional / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D003861:Depersonalization / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D004645:Empathy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009042:Motivation; D010551:Personality; D010552:Personality Assessment / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013337:Students, Medical / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Empathy; burnout; medical students; optimism
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