The relationship between empathic tendencies and altruistic behaviours in adolescents

Background: This study aimed to examine the relationship between the empathic tendencies and altruistic behaviours of adolescents. Methods: This descriptive and correlational study was conducted with 323 high school students in the 2017–2018 academic year. Data were collected using a sociodemographic characteristics form, the altruism scale and the empathic tendency scale. Descriptive statistics were evaluated using the bivariate correlation test and the linear regression test. Results: The mean age of the participants was 16.06 ± 1.19 (min = 14, max = 20), and 50.8% of them were female. The adolescents' mean scores on the empathic tendency and altruism scales were 65.71 ± 9.08 and 67.84 ± 9.25, respectively. A statistically significant moderate positive relation was found between the adolescents' empathic tendencies and their altruistic behaviours (r = 0.369, p = 0.000). Conclusions: The empathic tendency skills and altruistic behaviours of adolescents who participated in this study were at a good level. It is important to plan and apply educational programmes that develop adolescents' empathic tendencies and altruistic behaviours and to teach them positive social behaviours such as altruism.