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Cited by 4Neuroendocrine regulation and behaviorEmpathy and Medical EducationBreastfeeding Practices and Influences

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The relationship between oxytocin levels with empathy and breastfeeding intention in female medical students: A cross-sectional study

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Permatasari, Tria Astika Endah, Syafruddin, Amir·2022·Annals of Medicine & Surgery
DOI 10.1016/j.amsu.2022.104486PMC PMC9486696
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Abstract

Scientific evidence regarding the relationship of oxytocin to social and emotional behavior is consistently reported. This study aims to analyze the relationship between empathy and breastfeeding intention with oxytocin levels in medical students. A cross-sectional study of 59 female students at the Faculty of Medicine and Health, Universitas Muhammadiyah Jakarta in April 2018–June 2019 selected by purposive sampling technique. The measurement of empathy level using the ©Jafferson Emphatic Scale Student Version (JES-SV) questionnaire, breastfeeding intention using the Infant Feeding Intentions (IFI) questionnaire, and oxytocin levels using the Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA). Analysis of the relationship between oxytocin levels with empathy and breastfeeding intention used the independent samples t-test. The results showed that students' age (p = 0.030) and education stage (p = 0.036) were related to empathy. Age (p = 0.001) and education stage (p = 0.004) of students were also associated with serum oxytocin levels respectively. Empathy was significantly related to breastfeeding intention (p = 0.033). Oxytocin serum levels of female medical students are associated with empathy (p = 0.016) and breastfeeding intention (p= <0.001). Further studies on the role of oxytocin on empathy and breastfeeding intention need to include other factors to obtain more comprehensive information. Empathy and breastfeeding intention was not only associated with oxytocin levels. Psychological or educational interventions during the learning process at the academic and professional levels are also needed to support the process of forming these two social aspects.

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Fig. 1 Error Bar of Serum Oxytocin Levels based on Empathy Levels at the Stages of Student Education.
Fig. 1 Error Bar of Serum Oxytocin Levels based on Empathy Levels at the Stages of Student Education.CC BY-NC-ND · PubMed Central
Fig. 2 Error Bar of Serum Oxytocin Levels based on Breastfeeding Intention at the Stages of Student Education.
Fig. 2 Error Bar of Serum Oxytocin Levels based on Breastfeeding Intention at the Stages of Student Education.CC BY-NC-ND · PubMed Central

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References 42 · Cited by 4

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Metadata

Authors
Permatasari, T. A. E., & Syafruddin, A.
Affiliations
Universitas Muhammadiyah Jakarta (ID)
Corresponding author
Permatasari, Tria Astika Endah
ORCID
Venue
Annals of Medicine & Surgery
Publisher
Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health)
Published
2022-09
Volume
81
Pages
104486-104486
ISSN
2049-0801 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1016/j.amsu.2022.104486
PMC
PMC9486696
OpenAlex
W4293768105
Cited by
4
References
42
Citations by year
2023: 3 · 2022: 1
FWCI
0.94
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Annals of Medicine and Surgery (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Endocrine and Autonomic Systems › Neuroendocrine regulation and behavior
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Empathy and Medical Education
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Epidemiology › Breastfeeding Practices and Influences
Keywords
oxytocin, empathy, breastfeeding intention, female medical students

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Permatasari, T. A. E., & Syafruddin, A. (2022). The relationship between oxytocin levels with empathy and breastfeeding intention in female medical students: A cross-sectional study. Annals of Medicine & Surgery. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amsu.2022.104486