Determination of the relationship between the beliefs of nursing students toward mental illnesses and their empathic tendency levels

Purpose This study aimed to determine the beliefs and empathic tendency levels of nursing students toward mental illnesses and to examine the relationship between them. Design and Methods The cross-sectional study was conducted with 335 nursing students. The data collection tools were the Personal Information Form, Beliefs Toward Mental Illnesses Scale, and the Empathic Tendency Scale. Findings Nursing students have positive beliefs about mental illness. It was found that female students, and students who received information about mental health had higher levels of empathic tendency. Practice Implications It was found that the level of empathic tendency does not affect attitudes toward mental illnesses. In nursing education curriculum, it is recommended to plan psychosocial practices to improve their attitudes toward mental illnesses and to reduce stigmatization.