PROSOCIAL TENDENCIES OF HELPING PROFESSIONAL STUDENTS IN TERMS OF AGE AND EMPLOYMENT

Doc. RNDr. Mgr. Daniela BARKASI, PhD.

associate professor, St. Elizabeth University of Health and Social Work in Bratislava, n. o., Institute of Beatific M. D. Trček in Michalovce, Partizánska 23, 071 01 Michalovce, Slovakia, daniela.barkasi@gmail.com, ORCID: 0000-0001-8266-5302

Doc. PhDr. Mária POPOVIČOVÁ, PhD.

associate professor, Catholic University of Ružomberok Faculty of Health, nám. A. Hlinku 48, 03401 Ružomberok, Slovakia, majapopovicova7361@gmail.com, ORCID: 0000-0001-9101-3445

Abstract

In the presented report, we deal with the area of ​​prosocial tendencies in future helping professionals who are preparing for the profession of social worker and nurse. In these professions, professional training for a given profession, professional theoretical knowledge and skills are very important, but personal prerequisites should also be an important equipment of such a professional. Prosociality should also be an important characteristic. In our research, we focused on identifying prosocial tendencies in students from the perspective of their field of study, age and employment. As a tool, we used a questionnaire taken from the author [1], which followed the verification of the psychometric properties of the methodology for measuring prosocial behavior. In our research, we found that students studying nursing show higher average values ​​in two types of prosocial tendencies, namely in the requested type and in critical situations. The age factor influenced the differences in prosocial tendencies, with the oldest age group achieving higher values ​​in the anonymous and altruistic type, while the youngest group in the public type of prosocial tendencies. We found that students working in the field they are studying showed more pronounced prosocial tendencies, which indicates a stronger internal intention to help within their professional fields.

Keywords

Social work, nursing, prosocial tendencies, a helping professional

SUMMARY

Based on the results of our research, we can conclude that prosocial behavior in nursing and social work students is significantly manifested in various types of prosocial tendencies, and it was shown that nursing students tend to show higher values ​​of prosocial tendencies in critical situations and when they are asked for help. The differences found between students of different age groups and work experience show that age and professional experience in a given field have a significant impact on the intensity and nature of prosocial behavior. These results confirm the importance of the internal intention to help, which should be a key aspect in the development of helping professionals, such as future nurses and social workers. Our study contributes to a better understanding of the factors that shape prosocial tendencies in these professions and emphasizes the importance of their development already during study and practice.

(Language: english)

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