David Luna, Dirección General de Difusión e Investigación, Comisión Nacional de Arbitraje Médico, Ciudad de México, México
Ivette Vargas-de la Cruz, Unidad de Atención de Neurociencias, Centro Universitario de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad de Guadalajara, Guadalajara, Jalisco, México
Óscar A. Núñez-Gaytán, Unidad de Atención de Neurociencias, Centro Universitario de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad de Guadalajara, Guadalajara, Jalisco, México
Rosa P. Figuerola-Escoto, Departamento de Posgrado, Centro Interdisciplinario de Ciencias de la Salud, Unidad Santo Tomás, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Ciudad de México, México
Laura F. Barrera-Hernández, Departamento de Ciencias de la Salud, División de Ciencias Biológicas y de la Salud, Universidad de Sonora, Ciudad Obregón, Sonora. México
Fernando Meneses-González, Dirección General de Difusión e Investigación, Comisión Nacional de Arbitraje Médico, Ciudad de México, México
Miguel A. Lezana-Fernández, Dirección General de Difusión e Investigación, Comisión Nacional de Arbitraje Médico, Ciudad de México, México
Background: The expression of empathy improves the quality of health care, which is why its instruction is suggested during the years of academic training of medical students. However, expressing empathy can also cause anxiety and impair psychological well-being. Objective: To identify profiles that describe the relationship between empathy, anxiety and psychological well-being in Mexican medical students. Method: Cross-sectional study in Mexican medical students completed the Multidimensional Empathy Scale, the Beck Anxiety Inventory, and the Psychological Well-Being Scale for Adults. Results: Women presented greater empathy and anxiety and lower psychological well-being (p < 0.01). Anxiety in students of the last year of training was lower compared to students of the first and second year (p < 0.01). Four profiles were detected: 1) men, minimal anxiety, low empathy; 2) first-year students, moderate to severe anxiety, low psychological well-being, high empathy; 3) last year of training, mild anxiety, adequate psychological well-being, medium empathy; 4) women, second and third year of training, very high empathy. Conclusions: Medical students in their first year of training constitute a population at risk. Attention strategies are necessary for this student group.
Keywords: Mental health. Multiple correspondence analysis. Medical students. Psychological profile.