Gender differences in empathy among Iranian medical students

In this study we assessed Iranian medical students’ response to different empathy scales and then assessed their relations with personality, emotional and demographic characteristics. We conducted a descriptive and correlational research. Subjects were recruited voluntarily from eight universities in Iran. Data was obtained by administering a self-report questionnaire. Empathy was assessed by the Jefferson Scale of Empathy and Interpersonal Reactivity Scale. We found significant gender differences in empathy in medical students. Year of the college also meaningfully predicted some aspects of empathy.