Examining the empathy profiles, personality traits and work outcomes of trauma workers

Abstract

Research on trauma and emergency workers has continued to grow over the past several decades. However, most of the research on this population has tended to focus on the personal consequences associated with trauma work. The current study utilizes a person-centered approach to examine the empathy profiles and professional outcomes of these workers. Latent profile analyses were conducted on two samples of trauma and emergency workers using the Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI), a four-facet measure of empathy. Two similar groups of empathy profiles emerged from the two samples, with significant differences being observed among the profiles in terms of both work outcomes and occupational groupings. Significant differences were also noted among the empathy profiles in terms of the Big Five personality traits, several of which were covariates in the relationships between the profiles and specific work outcomes. The theoretical implications, practical considerations and limitations of the current study are discussed.