Characterizing the early relationship between covert narcissism and cognitive empathy in medical students: a cross-sectional study

In medicine, empathy refers to a predominantly cognitive attribute (rather than an emotional one), which is important as a foundation for positive physician-patient relationships. Physicians with a narcissistic personality trait have an assortment of characteristics that undermine their interpersona...

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Published in:BMC medical education 2025-01, Vol.25 (1), p.57, Article 57
Main Authors: Alcorta-Garza, Adelina, Vidal-Gutiérrez, Oscar, González-Guerrero, Juan F, Alcorta-Núñez, Fernando, Porras Garza, Guillermo A, San-Martín, Montserrat, Delgado Bolton, Roberto C, Vivanco, Luis
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Analysis
Cognition
COVID-19 - epidemiology
COVID-19 - psychology
Cross-Sectional Studies
Empathy
Female
Humans
Male
Medical students
Mexico
Narcissism
Physician and patient
Physician-Patient Relations
SARS-CoV-2
Students, Medical - psychology
Young Adult
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Summary:In medicine, empathy refers to a predominantly cognitive attribute (rather than an emotional one), which is important as a foundation for positive physician-patient relationships. Physicians with a narcissistic personality trait have an assortment of characteristics that undermine their interpersonal functioning in clinical encounters with their patients. Evidence suggests an inverse relationship between empathy and certain characteristics of a narcissistic personality trait in general population. The aim of this study was to characterize the relationship between cognitive empathy and covert narcissistic personality trait in newly enrolled medical students. A cross-sectional study was conducted in a Mexican school of medicine during the COVID-19 lockdown. The study sample included first-year medical students attending on-line classes. The Spanish version for medical students of the Jefferson Scale of Empathy (JSE-S), and the Hypersensitive Narcissism Scale (HSNS), were used as measures of cognitive empathy and covert narcissism, respectively. In addition, gender, age, speciality interest, and semester of enrolment were collected. Comparative, correlation and multiple regression analyses were performed among the variables analysed. In a sample of 283 students (207 females), differences in cognitive empathy and covert narcissism were observed by gender (p 
ISSN:1472-6920
1472-6920
DOI:10.1186/s12909-024-06626-1