Relationship between empathy and Internet altruistic behavior of medical students: mediating role of moral identity

ObjectiveTo explore the relationship between empathy, moral identity and Internet altruistic behavior among medical students.

MethodsA total of 791 college students were investigated by questionnaire, using the Interpersonal Reactivity Index-C, Internet altruistic behavior scale of undergraduates and moral identity scale.

ResultsThere was a statistical significance in the score of Internet altruistic behavior in gender and Internet age (P < 0.05 to P < 0.01). There was a significant positive correlation between medical students' empathy and Internet altruistic behavior (r=0.274, P < 0.01), and there was a significant correlation between college students' moral identity and Internet altruistic behavior (r=0.196, P < 0.01). Moral identity played an incomplete mediating effect between empathy and Internet altruistic behavior, accounting for 15.01% of the total effect.

ConclusionsEmpathy influences Internet altruistic behavior through moral identity, the improvement of the level of empathy and moral identity can help to increase the Internet altruistic behavior of medical students.