The Mediating Effect of Empathy on the Relationship between Self-Esteem and Practice Performance of Social Work College Students

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to verify the mediation effect of empathy on the relationship between self-esteem and practice performance of social work college students. To examine the effect, this study sought to answer how self-esteem and the empathic ability of social work college students impact their practice performance. We collected data by conducting a survey on social work college students in their junior and senior years in Jeonbuk who had completed field placement. A total of 146 students’ data was used for the analysis. Structural equation modeling using AMOS 22.0 of the three latent variables—self-esteem, empathy, and practice performance—was carried out to verify the mediation effect. The results of this study are as follows: First, self-esteem and the empathic ability of social work college students have a significant effect on their practice performance. Second, empathic ability has a partial mediation effect on the relationship between their self-esteem and practice performance. These results have significance in that they set the direction for social work education to improve the practice performance of such students who are potential social workers.