Relação entre qualidade de vida e empatia em estudantes universitários

Abstract

Introduction: University life is a period of intense transformations and challenges that can significantly impact students' well-being. In this context, quality of life and empathy emerge as fundamental constructs for mental health and the development of healthy interpersonal relationships. Objective: This study aimed to assess the quality of life and levels of empathy among university students in Brazil, investigating the correlation between these two factors and the relationship of empathy with sociodemographic, behavioral, and academic characteristics. Methodology: This is a cross-sectional, quantitative study conducted with students from on-site undergraduate programs in various regions of Brazil. Data collection took place between March and May 2025 through a self-administered online questionnaire, with invitations distributed via social media. The WHOQOL-bref instrument was used to assess quality of life, and the Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI) was employed to measure empathy. Data analysis included descriptive statistics and correlation tests (Pearson) as well as mean/median comparison tests (T-Test, Mann-Whitney, Kruskal-Wallis), with a significance level of p < 0.05. The project was approved by the Research Ethics Committee (Opinion No. 7.412.152). Results: The sample (n = 169) was predominantly composed of women (71.2%), single (85.9%), white (70.7%), residing in the Southern region (85.3%), with a mean age of 23.02 (± 6.15) years. Most participants were health sciences students (40.8%). Overall quality of life was rated as "Fair" for 61% of the sample, with an average score of 68.3 (± 11.54). The average global empathy score was 93.97 (± 15.98). The correlation analysis revealed a positive and statistically significant association between quality of life and empathy (r = 0.632; p < 0.001), indicating that higher levels of quality of life are associated with higher empathy scores. Higher empathy levels were observed in women (Mdn = 101) compared to men (Mdn = 81; p < 0.001), in students from the third year onwards (Mdn = 106) compared to those in their initial years (Mdn = 83; p < 0.001), in participants with a religion (Mdn = 98) versus those without a religion (Mdn = 87.5; p = 0.043), and in those with a comorbidity (Mdn = 102) versus those without a comorbidity (Mdn = 88; p < 0.001). The field of study also showed significant differences (p < 0.001), with scores from the Health Sciences (Mdn = 82) being significantly lower than those of the other groups. Conclusion: The findings suggest a relevant interdependence between the perception of quality of life and the empathic capacity of university students. The positive correlation between the constructs reinforces the importance of integrated approaches that promote both well-being and the development of socioemotional skills in the academic environment