A recent study by researchers at U. Michigan found students today are 40 percent less empathetic as compared to college students 30 years ago.

The research was a culmination of 72 different studies of American college students between 1979 and 2009. It consisted of data on empathy collected from about 14,000 college students over the last 30 years. Michigan psychology professor Sara Konrath headed the study at the school’s Institute of Social Research. She said that major changes occurred in the year 2000 due to the expanded scope of the Internet: social networking sites became available, as well as the advancement in electronic devices and less face-to-face interaction.

“We found that most of the drop happened after 2000,” Konrath said.

Konrath concluded increases in social networking technology could affect students’ level of empathy.

In the compiled studies, students rated statements such as “I sometimes try to understand my friends better by imagining how things look from their perspective” and “I often have tender, concerned feelings for people less fortunate than me.” Fewer students agree with those statements now than a generation ago.

Increased levels of stress could be a factor contributing to the decrease of empathy among college students, Konrath said. She said economic factors, like the ability to get jobs in the current economic downturn, could be increasing that stress. Today’s college students are often seen as more self-centered, narcissistic, competitive, confident and individualistic and are sometimes known as “Generation Me,” the study stated.

“Overall, there has been a rise in the trait of narcissism and a decline in the trait of empathy,” Konrath said.

Even decreases in levels of empathy can cause stress, magnifying the problem.

“It can raise the stress level more if your friends aren’t there to talk to,” Wellness Resource Center graduate assistant Jeremy Mims said.

According to Mims, students having lower levels of empathy will also cause them to feel more alone.

“Lower empathy causes people to feel more isolated,” Mims said. “If you don’t feel that your friends understand you, you will feel more isolated.”

Teresa Cooney, an MU professor of human development and family studies, agrees with the contemporary image of college students becoming more individualistic.

“A lot of social thinkers believe that we are becoming a more individualist society,” she said.

Konrath said she is concerned not only for students’ futures if this trend continues, but also the well being of their elderly parents. She said elderly parents are often cared for by their children but said if college students continue to lose feelings of empathy then they may not remain emotionally invested in their parents’ care.

Konrath said that she cannot predict whether students’ level of empathy will rise or decline in future generations, but said she is hopeful that it will increase.

“I think that ultimately it is a choice and college students need to decide,” Konrath said.