The Effect of Understanding Other Cultures on Intercultural Behavior and Mediating Effect of Empathy

This study examined the effect of understanding other culture on intercultural behavior among university students, with a particular focus on the mediating role of empathy. Survey data were collected from 154 undergraduate students in South Korea and analyzed using structural equation modeling. The results revealed that understanding other culture had a significant direct effect on intercultural behavior and also exerted a significant indirect effect through empathy. Bootstrapping analysis confirmed that empathy partially mediated the relationship between understanding other culture and intercultural behavior. These findings suggest that cognitive understanding of other cultures promotes intercultural behavior not only directly but also by fostering empathic capacities. The study highlights the importance of incorporating both cognitive and affective components into intercultural education and provides empirical evidence to support educational practices aimed at enhancing empathy and intercultural engagement among university students.