As Above, So Below: Uncovering the Personality Traits and Empathic Tendencies Among Nigerian Medical Students

Abstract

Background: Empathy is a crucial element of patient-centred care, but its relationship with personality traits among medical students remains underexplored, especially in non-Western contexts. This study examines how the Big Five personality traits (extraversion, agreeableness, conscientiousness, neuroticism, openness) affect empathy levels among Nigerian medical students, addressing existing research gaps from developing countries.

Aim: The study evaluated empathy levels using the Perth Empathy Scale (PES) and investigate the associations between empathy and personality traits to identify empathy predictors that could inform medical education strategies.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out with 229 clinical medical students at Ekiti State University, Nigeria. Participants completed the PES along with a Big Five personality inventory. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, correlation analysis, and linear regression in SPSS Version 25. Results: The average empathy score was 57. 24 (± 13. 12), with cognitive empathy (32. 42 ± 8. 04) being higher than affective empathy (24. 81 ± 7. 50). Conscientiousness was the only trait significantly correlated with empathy (r = 0. 272, p < 0. 01) and its sole predictor in regression analysis (β = 0. 301, p < 0. 001). Females scored higher in neuroticism and openness (p = 0. 005), although gender did not significantly influence empathy. Sociodemographic factors (e. g., family background, motivation for studying medicine) showed no significant associations with empathy.

Conclusion: Conscientiousness emerged as a vital predictor of empathy, suggesting that traits like diligence and responsibility enhance empathetic engagement. These findings underline the potential for integrating conscientiousness-focused training (e.g., structured reflection, ethical decision-making) into medical curricula. Future research should investigate longitudinal trends and cultural nuances in empathy development.