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The purpose of this paper was to assess empathy dimensions in Tunisian psychiatry trainees and to evaluate their relationship with relevant professional and extra-professional factors.

An online questionnaire survey was administered to the psychiatry trainees affiliated in the four faculties of medicine of Tunisia (n = 120). It comprised, in addition to sociodemographic and professional variables, the interpersonal reactivity index, a multidimensional instrument that evaluates perspective taking, empathic concern, personal distress and fantasy. Other self-report measures were used to assess emotion regulation, social support and self-efficacy. Data were analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences.

The response rate was 71%. Descriptive statistics showed that personal distress’ scores were lower than the other empathy dimensions’ scores. Perspective taking scores were negatively correlated with emotion regulation difficulties. Personal distress scores were positively correlated with emotion regulation difficulties. Hierarchical regression analysis revealed that being an only child significantly contributed to perspective taking and having an extra-professional activity significantly contributed to less personal distress. Perceived stress, social support and having a master’s degree were significant predictors for empathic concern. Self-efficacy was a significant predictor of perspective taking, with emotion regulation difficulties mediating this relationship.

Interventions dedicated to improve psychiatry trainees’ empathy should focus not only on clinical practice and medical education but also on emotional support and recovery activities.

A unique feature of this study is the investigation of the potential impacts of emotion regulation difficulties and perceived self-efficacy on empathic abilities of psychiatry trainees.

This study aims to examine the reliability and validity of the Arabic version of the attribution questionnaire (AQ).

The AQ is designed to assess attitudes, affects and behavioral intentions related to a hypothetical person diagnosed with schizophrenia. The original English version was translated into Literary Arabic. A total of 310 students registered in different universities, with medical and paramedical establishments excluded completed the Arabic version of AQ. Reliability was tested using Cronbach’s alpha coefficients. Structural equation modeling was used to test hypothesized paths. Correlations among exogenous (e.g. responsibility) and endogenous (e.g. help) variables in the path were examined. Fit indicators were then examined for equations that were identified.

The results revealed that the Arabic version of AQ showed acceptable psychometric properties in the assessment of stigma in the Tunisian population. All factors of this Arabic version showed Cronbach’s alpha values equal to or greater than 0.72. Structural equation models for the responsibility and dangerousness models were mostly supported. The Arabic version of AQ is valid and reliable for the assessment of stigma in Tunisian and Arabic-speaking populations.

The Arabic version of AQ may be used to promote research on stigma toward people with mental illness in larger and more representative Tunisian and Arabic-speaking populations, which will help to further address the complex and multifaceted phenomenon of stigma toward people with mental illness.

This is the first validated stigma measure in the Tunisian socio-cultural context.

This paper aims to assess the psychological impact of home confinement in Tunisian medical students and analyze the relationship between psychopathology and cognitive emotion regulation strategies.

In total, 251 medical students who have been in home confinement accepted to participate in an online questionnaire survey. They completed depression, anxiety and stress scale, beck hopelessness scale and cognitive emotion regulation questionnaire.

Moderate to extremely severe levels of depression, anxiety and stress were reported by 57.4%, 51.0% and 31.4% of medical students, respectively. Based on the cut-off value of nine, 31.1% of the participants showed high levels of hopelessness. Hierarchical regression analysis identified four cognitive emotion regulation strategies as significant independent contributors to psychopathology above and beyond home confinement related variables. Self-blame positively predicted stress. Catastrophizing positively predicted anxiety and hopelessness. Refocusing on planning negatively predicted anxiety. Positive reappraisal negatively predicted hopelessness.

Cognitive emotion regulation strategies may constitute a valuable target of preventive and interventional measures to improve medical students’ mental health.

A unique feature of this study is the demonstration of the important role played by cognitive emotion regulation strategies in predicting anxiety, stress and hopelessness in medical students. In the context of mandatory home confinement, these cognitive strategies were significant predictors of psychopathology above and beyond home confinement related variables.