Investigating Empathy in Malaysian School Students: New Insights into Education

Strategic Insights -

Researchers at International Islamic University Malaysia conducted a pioneering study to investigate the attitudes of school students toward competencies associated with human consciousness, validate the psychometric properties of a model of Malaysian school students' empathy, and examine the influence of various factors on empathy. Using a quantitative survey approach, data were collected from 911 students drawn from 10 schools throughout Malaysia. The study employed variance-based SEM to test the psychometric properties of the constructs and the structural model to test the direct and indirect hypothesized relationship between the variables.

Key Takeaways:

  • The study found that three out of four constructs, i.e., emotion regulation, sense of belonging, and problem-solving, have a direct influence on Malaysian school students' empathy.
  • Emotion regulation showed a mediating role in the relationship between the exogenous variables (sense of belonging and problem-solving) and students' empathy.
  • The model explained 58.6 percent of the variance in the Malaysian school students' empathy.
  • The study identified emotion regulation, sense of belonging, and problem-solving as the key factors influencing Malaysian school students' empathy.
  • The research aims to provide more effective support and interventions by teachers and the Ministry of Education to enhance school students' empathy.
  • The study used a quantitative survey approach with a four-point Likert scale instrument to collect data from 911 students.
  • The study employed variance-based SEM using Smart-PLS to test the psychometric properties of the constructs and the structural model.

Statistics:

  • 911 students participated in the study.
  • 10 schools throughout Malaysia were involved in the study.
  • The model explained 58.6 percent of the variance in the Malaysian school students' empathy.
  • The study found that three out of four constructs have a direct influence on Malaysian school students' empathy.

Sources:

  • Partial Least Squares Modelling of Factors Influencing Empathy Among Malaysian Secondary School Students. Malaysian Journal of Learning and Instruction, 2023, 20(1).
  • UUM Press is the publisher of the Malaysian Journal of Learning and Instruction.
  • DOI: 10.32890/mjli2023.20.1.4 (free version available).
  • Rosnani Hashim, Kulliyyah of Education, International Islamic University Malaysia.
  • Abdulmajid Mohammed Aldaba, Mohamed Aslam M.Haneef, Mohamad Fauzan Noordin (additional authors).
  • NewsRx. Study Findings on Education Discussed by Researchers at International Islamic University Malaysia (Partial Least Squares Modelling of Factors Influencing Empathy Among Malaysian Secondary School Students). Respiratory Therapeutics Week. January 23, 2023; p 1290.