Influencia de la empatía sobre las conductas de riesgo en adolescentes de Colombia, Ecuador y Chile
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Fecha
2025
Autores
JAVELA, JULIAN
Bahamón, Marly Johana
Barraza López, René Javier
Bonilla-Cruz, Nidia-Johanna
Ortega Bechara, Andrea
Cabezas Corcione, Andrés
Garcia-Batista, Zoilo Emilio
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Universidad Central de Venezuela - UCV
Academia Nacional de Medicina (Venezuela)
Academia Nacional de Medicina (Venezuela)
Resumen
Introducción: La adolescencia es una etapa crítica en la formación de la identidad y el desarrollo socioemocional, en la que la empatía juega un papel clave en la regulación de la conducta y la toma de decisiones. Se ha evidenciado que la empatía puede actuar como un factor protector ante conductas de riesgo como el consumo de sustancias, la infracción de la ley y la pertenencia a pandillas. Método: Estudio transversal con 1 555 adolescentes de Ecuador (n= 440), Colombia (n = 648) y Chile (n = 467), con edades entre 12 y 18 años. Se utilizó la prueba de Empatía Cognitiva y Afectiva (TECA) y un cuestionario de caracterización de conductas de riesgo. Se realizaron análisis de ANOVA y Kruskal-Wallis, con comparaciones post hoc para evaluar diferencias entre países. Resultados: Chile y Colombia presentaron niveles más altos de empatía en comparación con Ecuador. Se encontró una relación inversa entre la empatía y la prevalencia de conductas de riesgo: adolescentes con mayor empatía mostraron menor
consumo de sustancias, menos infracciones de la ley y menor pertenencia a pandillas. Discusión y conclusiones: Los hallazgos sugieren que la empatía es un factor protector clave en la prevención de conductas de riesgo y su impacto puede estar modulado por factores socioculturales y estructurales. Se recomienda el desarrollo de programas psicoeducativos que fortalezcan la empatía en adolescentes expuestos a contextos de vulnerabilidad.
Introduction: Adolescence is a critical stage in identity formation and socio-emotional development, where empathy plays a key role in behavior regulation and decision-making. Empathy has been shown to act as a protective factor against risk behaviors such as substance use, law violations, and gang affiliation. Method: A cross-sectional study with 1 555 adolescents from Ecuador (n = 440), Colombia (n = 648), and Chile (n = 467), aged 12 to 18 years. The Cognitive and Affective Empathy Test (TECA) and a risk behavior characterization questionnaire were used. ANOVA and Kruskal-Wallis analyses, along with post hoc comparisons, were performed to assess differences between countries. Results: Chile and Colombia showed higher levels of empathy compared to Ecuador. An inverse relationship was found between empathy and the prevalence of risk behaviors: adolescents with greater empathy reported lower substance use, fewer law violations, and less gang affiliation. Discussion and Conclusions: The findings suggest that empathy is a key protective factor in preventing risk behaviors, although sociocultural and structural factors may moderate its impact. The development of psychoeducational programs to strengthen empathy in adolescents exposed to vulnerable contexts is recommended.
Introduction: Adolescence is a critical stage in identity formation and socio-emotional development, where empathy plays a key role in behavior regulation and decision-making. Empathy has been shown to act as a protective factor against risk behaviors such as substance use, law violations, and gang affiliation. Method: A cross-sectional study with 1 555 adolescents from Ecuador (n = 440), Colombia (n = 648), and Chile (n = 467), aged 12 to 18 years. The Cognitive and Affective Empathy Test (TECA) and a risk behavior characterization questionnaire were used. ANOVA and Kruskal-Wallis analyses, along with post hoc comparisons, were performed to assess differences between countries. Results: Chile and Colombia showed higher levels of empathy compared to Ecuador. An inverse relationship was found between empathy and the prevalence of risk behaviors: adolescents with greater empathy reported lower substance use, fewer law violations, and less gang affiliation. Discussion and Conclusions: The findings suggest that empathy is a key protective factor in preventing risk behaviors, although sociocultural and structural factors may moderate its impact. The development of psychoeducational programs to strengthen empathy in adolescents exposed to vulnerable contexts is recommended.
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Empatía, Conductas de riesgo, Adolescentes, América Latina
