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Tang Z, Xiang H, Geng Y, Liao X, Zhang M, Zhang T. Association between screen time and depressive symptoms in a sample of Chinese medical students: Mediator role of empathy. Nurs Health Sci 2023; 25:654-664. [PMID: 37837276 DOI: 10.1111/nhs.13059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2023] [Revised: 08/24/2023] [Accepted: 09/28/2023] [Indexed: 10/15/2023]
Abstract
Medical students are at high risk of psychological subhealth under heavy stress with increasing screen time. This study aimed to explore the association between screen time and depressive symptoms and determine empathy as a mediating factor. In this cross-sectional study, a total of 945 medical students were surveyed, and 924 medical students were ultimately included after standard exclusion criteria. They reported their daily screen time and completed the Chinese version of the Jefferson Scale of Empathy-Student Version (JSE-S) and the Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS). t tests and analysis of variance showed a significant difference in empathy and depressive symptoms by sex, stage, and screen time. The correlation analysis revealed that both affective and cognitive empathy have inverse associations with depressive symptoms. The mediation model confirmed that cognitive empathy played a positive mediating role between screen time and depressive symptoms, reducing the impact of screen time on depressive symptoms. Our study may add empirical evidence to prevent and intervene in depressive symptoms. These findings call for considering controlling screen time and enhancing cognitive empathy as interventions for medical students' depressive symptoms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhengyu Tang
- Department of Social Medicine, School of Public Health, Medical College of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Hongshu Xiang
- Department of Social Medicine, School of Public Health, Medical College of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yiran Geng
- Department of Social Medicine, School of Public Health, Medical College of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Xiting Liao
- Department of Social Medicine, School of Public Health, Medical College of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Ming Zhang
- Department of Psychology, School of Education, Suzhou University of Science and Technology, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China
- Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience, Graduate School of Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering in Health Systems, Okayama University, Okayama, Japan
| | - Tianyang Zhang
- Department of Social Medicine, School of Public Health, Medical College of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China
- Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience, Graduate School of Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering in Health Systems, Okayama University, Okayama, Japan
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2
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Grases G, Colom MA, Sanchis P, Grases F. Relationship of depression with empathy, emotional intelligence, and symptoms of a weakened immune system. Front Psychol 2023; 14:1250636. [PMID: 37965661 PMCID: PMC10641773 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1250636] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2023] [Accepted: 10/16/2023] [Indexed: 11/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Previous studies have used different individual scales to examine the relationship of depression with emotional intelligence, empathy, and immune-based diseases. In this study, we used a combination of psychometric scales to examine the relationships of depression with emotional intelligence (intrapersonal and interpersonal), empathy (affective and cognitive), and symptoms of weakened immune system. Methods This cross-sectional prospective study examined 158 volunteers (39 males and 119 females). A score of 10 or more on the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II) was used to define depression. The Cognitive and Affective Empathy Test (TECA) was used to assess empathy, and the Profile of Emotional Competence (PEC) was used to assess the self-perception of intrapersonal and interpersonal competence. The symptoms of a weakened immune system (WIS) were assessed by measurements of permanent tiredness, frequent infections and colds, slow wound healing, persistent and recurrent diarrhea, recurring herpes, insomnia and difficulty sleeping, and dry eyes. Results The total PEC score and intrapersonal PEC score had negative correlations with depression, and the WIS score had a positive correlation with depression. The TECA score had no significant correlation with depression or the WIS score, but had positive correlations with the total PEC score, intrapersonal PEC score, and interpersonal PEC score. Conclusion The total PEC score, intrapersonal PEC score, and WIS score were significantly associated with depression. The TECA score was not significantly associated with depression or the WIS score. Our findings suggest that improving intrapersonal emotional skills may improve function of the immune system and reduce the symptoms of depression. We suggest that further studies examine the effect of targeted improvement of interpersonal skills (empathy) on depression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gloria Grases
- Centro de Enseñanza Superior Alberta Gimenez (CESAG), Palma de Mallorca, Spain
| | | | - Pilar Sanchis
- University Institute of Health Sciences Research (IUNICS- IdisBa), University of Balearic Islands, Palma de Mallorca, Spain
| | - Felix Grases
- University Institute of Health Sciences Research (IUNICS- IdisBa), University of Balearic Islands, Palma de Mallorca, Spain
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Shalev I, Eran A, Uzefovsky F. Fluctuations and individual differences in empathy interact with stress to predict mental health, parenting, and relationship outcomes. Front Psychol 2023; 14:1237278. [PMID: 37928564 PMCID: PMC10621795 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1237278] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2023] [Accepted: 10/05/2023] [Indexed: 11/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Empathy is a complex, multifaceted ability allowing for the most basic forms of social communication and plays a prominent role in multiple aspects of everyday lives. In this intensive longitudinal study, we assessed how empathy interacts with stress to predict central domains of psychosocial functioning: mental health, romantic relationships, and parenting. Methods Fluctuations and individual differences in empathy were assessed across eight time points, where participants from the general population (N = 566) self-reported their empathy, stress, depressive symptoms, romantic satisfaction, and parental functioning. Results Both trait and state aspects of empathy were associated with all psychosocial outcomes, with state empathy showing a stronger effect. Additionally, empathy components interacted with stress-emotional empathy better-predicted outcomes under high stress, while cognitive empathy under low stress. Discussion Our findings advance the theoretical understanding of empathy, emphasizing the effects of state-dependent empathy fluctuations on our everyday mental and social lives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ido Shalev
- Department of Psychology, Ben Gurion University, Beer-Sheva, Israel
| | - Alal Eran
- Computational Health Informatics Program, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, United States
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Sinha P, Mehta UM, S.N. A, Srivastava P. Empathic Accuracy Task: Indian Adaptation and Validation. Indian J Psychol Med 2023; 45:486-495. [PMID: 37772149 PMCID: PMC10523519 DOI: 10.1177/02537176221141583] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Background The Empathic Accuracy Task (EAT) is an objective measure to assess empathic accuracy. Due to the variability in the number and linked emotions of the narrated events, we adapted EAT for the Indian sociocultural setting as Indian EAT (I-EAT). Methods Eight videos were adapted in three languages (English, Hindi, and Kannada), narrating emotional events with a uniform representation of age groups, different emotions, and sex. The adapted I-EAT was then validated by cross-sectional comparison with different tests similar to EAT and those that assessed concepts different from or similar to empathy, in 29 healthy young adults, 23 healthy older adults (aged ≥60 years) along with clinical groups of 15 young people with depression, 15 older people with depression, and 15 young people with schizophrenia. Results We selected eight videos with good content validity and internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha = 0.73. We obtained satisfactory concurrent validity of the EAT scores with the self-reported empathic assessments using the Questionnaire of Cognitive and Affective Empathy (Cognitive empathy score = 0.29, p = .034; Total score = 0.29, p = .035) and Interpersonal Reactivity Index (Empathic concern score = 0.45, p = .001). Good divergent validity was revealed in the high inverse correlation recorded with the Apathy Evaluation Scale ( = -0.67, p < .001). I-EAT did not correlate significantly with measures of social cognition. Known-groups validity was adequate in young adults with the significantly lower EAT scores (Cohen's d: 0.77 to 1.15) in the Schizophrenia group and higher EAT-N scores (Cohen's d: 0.51) in the Depression group, compared to the Healthy group. The Healthy group of the geriatric population also achieved significantly higher EAT scores (Cohen's d: 0.71 to 0.85) than the Depression group. Conclusion With a good validity and internal consistency, I-EAT can be used in the Indian population to assess empathic accuracy without compromising performance of the original EAT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Preeti Sinha
- Dept. of Psychiatry, National
Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS), Bengaluru, Karnataka,
India
| | - Urvakhsh M. Mehta
- Dept. of Psychiatry, National
Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS), Bengaluru, Karnataka,
India
| | - Anuradha S.N.
- Dept. of Psychiatry, National
Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS), Bengaluru, Karnataka,
India
- Dept. of Psychiatry, SDM College of
Medical Sciences & Hospital, Dharwad, Karnataka, India
| | - Prerna Srivastava
- Dept. of Psychiatry, National
Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS), Bengaluru, Karnataka,
India
- Dept. of Clinical Psychology,
Institute of Psychiatry, Kolkata, West Bengal, India
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Li Y, Luo R, Wang D, Zhang X. Association between Empathy and Clinical Symptoms among Overweight and Non-Overweight Chinese Chronic Schizophrenia Patients. Brain Sci 2023; 13:1075. [PMID: 37509007 PMCID: PMC10377734 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci13071075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2023] [Revised: 07/10/2023] [Accepted: 07/13/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Patients with schizophrenia are afflicted by severe clinical symptoms and serious cognitive dysfunction. The aim of this study is to investigate the potential relationships between clinical symptoms and empathy and their variations between overweight and non-overweight schizophrenia patients. To address this problem, a group of 776 inpatients diagnosed with chronic schizophrenia (504 overweight patients and 272 non-overweight patients) was recruited. The Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) and its five-factor model were employed to assess clinical symptoms, while empathy levels were measured using the Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI). The overweight patients had lower education levels but higher positive symptoms than the non-overweight patients (all p < 0.05). In addition, the overweight patients performed significantly better with respect to empathy (FDR-corrected p < 0.05). Additional multiple regression analyses indicated significant associations between the total score of the IRI and PANSS negative symptoms, gender, and family history of psychiatric disorders among the overweight group; among non-overweight patients, there was a significant correlation between suicide and the total score of the IRI. This study provides evidence suggesting that chronic schizophrenia patients who are overweight may have distinct clinical characteristics, particularly with respect to their empathy, compared with non-overweight patients. Moreover, different variables are associated with empathy in different groups.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuchen Li
- School of Mental Health and Psychological Sciences, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, China
| | - Ruichenxi Luo
- School of Mental Health and Psychological Sciences, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, China
| | - Dongmei Wang
- Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
- Department of Psychology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Xiangyang Zhang
- School of Mental Health and Psychological Sciences, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, China
- Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
- Department of Psychology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
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6
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Bray KO, Pozzi E, Vijayakumar N, Richmond S, Seal M, Pantelis C, Anderson V, Whittle S. Empathy and resting-state functional connectivity in children. NEUROIMAGE: REPORTS 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ynirp.2022.100142] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
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Liu Q, Zhao X, Liu W, Liu Q. Empathy and depression among a Chinese sample: The moderating role of rumination and attentional shift. Front Psychol 2022; 13:1027298. [PMID: 36507000 PMCID: PMC9729700 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.1027298] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2022] [Accepted: 11/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Although previous studies have explored the moderating role of emotional regulation strategies in the relationship between empathy and depression, no studies have studied the moderating role of attentional control in the relationship between empathy and depression. To address this research gap, the present study investigated the moderating roles of rumination and attentional control in the relationship between empathy and depression. Methods 423 participants filled out questionnaires anonymously, including Interpersonal Reactivity Index, Attention Control Scale, Self-rating Depression Scale, and Rumination Response Scale. PROCESS macro for SPSS was used for moderating effect analysis. Results Rumination and attentional shift moderated the relationship between emotional empathy and depression. Specifically, the lower rumination or the higher attentional shift, the stronger the negative association between emotional empathy and depression. Attentional shift moderated the relationship between cognitive empathy and depression, and cognitive empathy was significantly associated with depression only among participants whose attentional shift is high. Conclusion The study showed that rumination and attentional shift play important roles in the relationship between empathy and depression. The findings implicated that the positive role of good emotional regulation strategies and executive function for individuals in the relationship between empathy and depression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qipeng Liu
- School of Education, Huaibei Normal University, Huaibei, China
| | - Xiaoyun Zhao
- School of Education, Huaibei Normal University, Huaibei, China,Anhui Engineering Research Center for Intelligent Computing and Application on Cognitive Behavior, Huaibei, China,*Correspondence: Xiaoyun Zhao,
| | - Weidi Liu
- School of Education, Huaibei Normal University, Huaibei, China
| | - Qianchen Liu
- School of Education, Huaibei Normal University, Huaibei, China
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Maximiano-Barreto MA, Bomfim AJDL, Borges MM, de Moura AB, Luchesi BM, Chagas MHN. Recognition of Facial Expressions of Emotion and Depressive Symptoms among Caregivers with Different Levels of Empathy. Clin Gerontol 2022; 45:1245-1252. [PMID: 34219607 DOI: 10.1080/07317115.2021.1937426] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To assess differences in the recognition of facial expressions of emotion among caregivers of older people with different levels of empathy. METHODS A cross-sectional study was conducted with 158 caregivers of older adults who provided care in family residences or nursing homes. The caregivers were divided into three groups based on the score of the multidimensional Interpersonal Reactivity Index: "lower empathy", "intermediate empathy", and "higher empathy". Data collection involved the administration of a sociodemographic questionnaire, the Emotion Recognition Test, and the Patient Health Questionnaire. RESULTS No significant differences were found among the groups in terms of sociodemographic variables. Regarding clinical characteristics, the "higher empathy" group had more depressive symptoms than the other groups (p = .001). Moreover, the "higher empathy" group exhibited greater accuracy at recognizing the expression of sadness than the "lower empathy" group (p = .033). The recognition of sadness remained significant in the analysis of variance adjusted for depressive symptoms (p < .05). CONCLUSIONS Caregivers with higher levels of empathy showed greater accuracy at recognizing sadness emotion compared to caregivers with lower levels of empathy. Additionally, caregivers with greater empathy have more depressive symptoms. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS The recognition of facial expressions of sadness may give caregivers a skill to infer possible needs in older care recipients. However, a higher level of empathy may exert a negative psychological impact on caregivers of older people, which could have repercussions regarding the quality of care provided.
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Affiliation(s)
- Madson Alan Maximiano-Barreto
- Department of Psychology, Federal University of São Carlos, São Carlos, Brazil.,Research Group on Mental Health, Cognition, and Aging, Federal University of São Carlos, São Carlos, Brazil
| | - Ana Julia de Lima Bomfim
- Research Group on Mental Health, Cognition, and Aging, Federal University of São Carlos, São Carlos, Brazil.,Department of Neurocience and Behavior, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
| | - Marina Miranda Borges
- Research Group on Mental Health, Cognition, and Aging, Federal University of São Carlos, São Carlos, Brazil
| | - Amanda Barros de Moura
- Research Group on Mental Health, Cognition, and Aging, Federal University of São Carlos, São Carlos, Brazil
| | - Bruna Moretti Luchesi
- Research Group on Mental Health, Cognition, and Aging, Federal University of São Carlos, São Carlos, Brazil.,Undergraduate Course in Medicine and Postgraduate Program in Nursing, Federal University of Mato Grosso do Sul, Três Lagoas, Brazil
| | - Marcos Hortes Nisihara Chagas
- Department of Psychology, Federal University of São Carlos, São Carlos, Brazil.,Research Group on Mental Health, Cognition, and Aging, Federal University of São Carlos, São Carlos, Brazil.,Department of Neurocience and Behavior, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil.,Bairral Psychiatry Institute, Itapira, Brazil
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9
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Maximiano-Barreto MA, de Morais Fabrício D, de Lima Bomfim AJ, Luchesi BM, Chagas MHN. Psychological Concerns Associated with Empathy in Paid and Unpaid Caregivers of Older People: A Systematic Review. Clin Gerontol 2022:1-14. [PMID: 35726494 DOI: 10.1080/07317115.2022.2090879] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Identify associations between psychological concerns and empathy (affective and cognitive domains) in paid and unpaid caregivers of older people. METHODS A systematic review of the literature was conducted. Searches were performed in the Pubmed, Web of Science, PsycINFO, Scopus and Embase databases using the search terms "Empathy," "Caregiver," "Depression," "Burnout," Anxiety", Caregiver Burden" and "Psychological Stresses" and the Boolean operators "AND" and "OR." No restrictions were imposed regarding language or year of publication. This review was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42021267276). RESULTS Twelve articles met the inclusion criteria and were included in the present review. Most studies involved the participation of unpaid caregivers. Higher levels of empathy were associated with greater psychological concerns. Regarding affective empathy, direct associations were found with depressive symptoms, anxiety and stress. In contrast, high levels of cognitive empathy were associated with fewer depressive symptoms as well as less stress and burnout syndrome. CONCLUSIONS An association was found between greater affective empathy and psychological impairment in caregivers of older people. Higher levels of cognitive empathy can help minimize psychological concerns. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS Working on empathic ability among caregivers of older people in different environments can contribute positively to the emotional impact of caregiving. Moreover, empathetic cognitive training among caregivers can serve as a strategy to minimize the negative consequences of the impact of caregiving.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Daiene de Morais Fabrício
- Research Group on Mental Health, Cognition and Aging, Federal University of São Carlos, São Carlos, Brazil
| | - Ana Julia de Lima Bomfim
- Research Group on Mental Health, Cognition and Aging, Federal University of São Carlos, São Carlos, Brazil
- Department of Neuroscience and Behavior, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
| | - Bruna Moretti Luchesi
- Research Group on Mental Health, Cognition and Aging, Federal University of São Carlos, São Carlos, Brazil
- Campus de Três Lagoas, Federal University of Mato Grosso Do Sul, Três Lagoas, Brazil
| | - Marcos Hortes Nisihara Chagas
- Research Group on Mental Health, Cognition and Aging, Federal University of São Carlos, São Carlos, Brazil
- Department of Neuroscience and Behavior, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
- Bairral Institute of Psychiatry, Itapira, Brazil
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Geng Y, Fei W, Tang Z, Wang S, Yu J, Zhang M, Zhang T. Parental care and depressive symptoms among Chinese medical students: roles of empathy and gender. BMC MEDICAL EDUCATION 2022; 22:451. [PMID: 35689260 PMCID: PMC9188078 DOI: 10.1186/s12909-022-03524-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2021] [Accepted: 06/03/2022] [Indexed: 05/14/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Medical students in China who face the dual pressure of study and employment tend to experience subclinical depressive symptoms. Parental care plays an important direct and indirect role in the psychological development of medical students, and the extent and mechanism of this role urgently need to be studied and discussed. METHODS After simple random sampling and screening of valid questionnaires, data from a total of 924 people were used. The participants completed the parental bonding instrument, self-rating depression scale, Chinese version of the Jefferson empathy scale-medical student edition and self-rating anxiety scale to evaluate parental care, empathy, depressive symptoms and anxiety. The data were statistically processed using a descriptive analysis, correlation analysis and test of moderated mediation. RESULTS Maternal care had a significant negative predictive effect on depressive symptoms among medical students. Strong maternal care can reduce the occurrence of depressive symptoms in medical students. Empathy played a positive mediating role such that both types of empathy could alleviate the effect of weak maternal care on the depressive symptoms of medical students. However, neither cognitive empathy nor affective empathy played a mediating role in the relationship between paternal care and depressive symptoms. Nevertheless, the relationship between maternal care and empathy was moderated by the medical students' gender. CONCLUSIONS The effect of this relationship on female medical students deserves special attention. The results of this study provide a reference and basis for the adjustment of medical education. This study could also help in the design of effective psychological intervention measures to reduce the degree of depressive symptoms and enhance personal empathy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yiran Geng
- School of Public Health, Medical College of Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Wenjing Fei
- School of Public Health, Medical College of Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Zhengyu Tang
- School of Public Health, Medical College of Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Shaishai Wang
- School of Public Health, Medical College of Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Jiachun Yu
- School of Public Health, Medical College of Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Ming Zhang
- Department of Psychology, Suzhou University of Science and Technology, Suzhou, China.
| | - Tianyang Zhang
- School of Public Health, Medical College of Soochow University, Suzhou, China.
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Doubková N, Heissler R, Preiss M, Sanders E. Differences in personality functioning impairment in mood, anxiety, and personality disorders: a cluster analysis. BMC Psychiatry 2022; 22:315. [PMID: 35508979 PMCID: PMC9066891 DOI: 10.1186/s12888-022-03958-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2022] [Accepted: 04/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The Alternative DSM-5 Model for Personality Disorders and the latest eleventh version of the International Classification of Diseases implement the level of impairment in self and interpersonal personality functioning (Level of Personality Functioning Scale - LPFS) as a core feature of personality pathology. However, some studies have indicated that personality functioning is also impaired in other mental disorders, but a more thorough exploration is missing. Thus, this study aims to develop profiles of levels of personality functioning in people with personality disorders and some other psychiatric diagnoses as well as without diagnosis. METHODS One-hundred-forty-nine people participated in the study. They came from three groups - healthy controls (n = 53), people with personality disorders (n = 58), and people with mood and anxiety disorders (n = 38). The LPFS was assessed by the Semi-structured Interview for Personality Functioning DSM-5 (STiP-5.1). An optimal clustering solution using agglomerative hierarchical cluster analysis was generated to represent profiles of personality functioning. RESULTS The two patient groups showed significantly higher levels of personality functioning impairment than healthy controls. People with personality disorders showed higher levels of impairment than the other groups. In addition, the clustering analysis revealed three distinct profiles of personality functioning. CONCLUSIONS The impairment of personality functioning seems to be useful in the clinical assessment of other than personality disorders as well. As the resulting clustering profiles suggest, LPFS can be seen as an overall indicator of the severity of mental health difficulties and the presence of mental disorders symptoms. The LPFS provides valuable and detailed information about the individual's mental health and can thus serve as a broad basis for case formulation, treatment and therapy planning, and prognosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nikola Doubková
- National Institute of Mental Health, Topolová 748, 250 67, Klecany, Czech Republic. .,Faculty of Education, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic.
| | - Radek Heissler
- grid.447902.cNational Institute of Mental Health, Topolová 748, 250 67 Klecany, Czech Republic
| | - Marek Preiss
- grid.447902.cNational Institute of Mental Health, Topolová 748, 250 67 Klecany, Czech Republic ,grid.449989.10000 0000 8694 2154University of New York in Prague, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Edel Sanders
- grid.449989.10000 0000 8694 2154University of New York in Prague, Prague, Czech Republic
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Cui D, Liu L, Li Y. Association Between Children's Empathy and Depression: The Moderating Role of Social Preference. Child Psychiatry Hum Dev 2022; 54:857-869. [PMID: 34982305 DOI: 10.1007/s10578-021-01312-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/12/2021] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
Although empathy is typically an adaptive characteristic of children, extreme empathy alone or in combination with a negative environment may contribute to a risk of depression. The present study comprehensively investigated the associations between the three constructs of empathy and depression in children, as well as the potential moderating effect of peer relationships (i.e., social preference) on this association. A total of 1223 children (mean age = 10.50 ± .93 years) completed questionnaires on empathy and depression, and social preference was nominated by their peers. Cognitive empathy and positive empathy exerted a positive quadratic effect on depression, while negative empathy had a positive linear association with depression. For children with a low social preference, all three empathy constructs were positively quadratically correlated with depression, extremely high and low empathy were associated with increased depression, and moderate empathy was associated with the lowest level of depression. For children with a high social preference, higher positive empathy was associated with lower depression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dan Cui
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Assessment for Basic Education Quality, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Lisha Liu
- Center for Teacher Education Research, Faculty of Education, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Yanfang Li
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Assessment for Basic Education Quality, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, People's Republic of China.
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Förster K, Kurtz M, Konrad A, Kanske P. Emotional Reactivity, Emotion Regulation, and Social Emotions in Affective Disorders. ZEITSCHRIFT FUR KLINISCHE PSYCHOLOGIE UND PSYCHOTHERAPIE 2022. [DOI: 10.1026/1616-3443/a000648] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
Abstract. Affective disorders, specifically Major Depressive Disorder and Bipolar Disorders, show high prevalence, relapse rates, and a high likelihood to develop a chronic course. For the past two decades, research has investigated the neural correlates of emotion processing and emotion regulation in patients with affective disorders. Putative underlying causal mechanisms of dysregulated affect have been informed by knowledge from the intersection of neuroimaging and clinical psychology. More recent investigations also consider processing the role of mostly negative, self-blaming social emotions, which have been linked to treatment resistance and, hence, provide a prolific target for intervention. Several psychotherapeutic treatment approaches already focus on emotion, and here specific knowledge about the mechanisms underlying persistent changes in affect bears the potential to improve the treatment of affective disorders. In this narrative review, we delineate why and how our insights into the neural correlates of emotion processing and regulation can be applied to the treatment of patients with affective disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katharina Förster
- Clinical Psychology and Behavioral Neuroscience, Faculty of Psychology, Technische Universität Dresden (TU Dresden), Germany
| | - Marcel Kurtz
- Clinical Psychology and Behavioral Neuroscience, Faculty of Psychology, Technische Universität Dresden (TU Dresden), Germany
- Social Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, Technische Universität Dresden (TU Dresden), Germany
| | - Annika Konrad
- Clinical Psychology and Behavioral Neuroscience, Faculty of Psychology, Technische Universität Dresden (TU Dresden), Germany
| | - Philipp Kanske
- Clinical Psychology and Behavioral Neuroscience, Faculty of Psychology, Technische Universität Dresden (TU Dresden), Germany
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14
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Yan Z, Zeng X, Su J, Zhang X. The dark side of empathy: Meta-analysis evidence of the relationship between empathy and depression. Psych J 2021; 10:794-804. [PMID: 34494388 DOI: 10.1002/pchj.482] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2020] [Revised: 07/25/2021] [Accepted: 08/04/2021] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
Regardless of a large amount of literature, whether empathy closely relates to depression is far from conclusive. The present study collected previous evidence and performed a meta-analysis to investigate the correlation between empathy and depression. By searching databases, 21 studies and 48 effect sizes were collected. Results showed that empathy was not correlated to depression (r = .006, p = .87). However, subgroup analyses showed that while the relationship between affective empathy and depression was significantly positively correlated (r = .108, p < .01), cognitive empathy was not (r = -.03, p = .26). Additionally, the relationship between empathy and depression varied during development, with a positive correlation in adolescence (r = .084, p < .01) and negative correlation in older adults (r = -.191, p < .001). Results implied that affective empathy might be one of the risk factors for depression, and higher affective empathy might mean more vulnerability to depression. Further studies would help by examining when and how this relationship builds, as well as the contributing factors of its development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhiqiang Yan
- Department of Psychology, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, China.,Cognition and Human Behavior Key Laboratory of Hunan Province, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, China
| | - Xiao Zeng
- School of Educational Science, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, China
| | - Jinlong Su
- School of Psychology, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, China
| | - Xiaoxi Zhang
- Department of Normal, Jiujiang Vocational University, Jiujiang, China
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15
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Associations of affective and cognitive empathy with depressive symptoms among a sample of Chinese college freshmen. J Affect Disord 2021; 292:652-659. [PMID: 34153836 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2021.05.111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2021] [Revised: 04/02/2021] [Accepted: 05/31/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND College freshmen are at high risk for mental and socioemotional problems after entering a new environment. However, few investigators have evaluated the associations between empathy and depressive symptoms among college freshmen. The present study examined the presence and associations of affective and cognitive empathy with depressive symptoms among college freshmen in China. METHODS In total, 4297 college freshmen completed the Interpersonal Reactivity Index as an assessment of empathy and the University Personality Inventory to evaluate the prevalence of depressive symptoms. RESULTS The empathy scores of females were higher than that of males, and approximately 18.4% of freshmen had high-depressive symptoms (HDS). Freshmen with a higher positive component of affective empathy (empathic concern (EC)) experienced fewer HDS. In contrast, freshmen with a higher negative component of affective empathy (personal distress (PD)) and lower cognitive empathy (perspective taking (PT)) experienced more HDS. EC was negatively associated with depressive symptoms, PD was positively related to depressive symptoms, and PT was negatively associated with depressive symptoms. Males with a higher degree of PT experienced fewer HDS, while females with a higher degree of PT experienced more HDS. CONCLUSION Affective empathy was positively associated with depressive symptoms, while cognitive empathy was negatively related to depressive symptoms. The association between affective and cognitive empathy with depressive symptoms may add some support to the detection of clinical depressive symptoms. These findings call for the necessity of considering the characteristics of affective and cognitive empathy as a crucial concern in the prevention of depressive symptoms.
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16
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Bray KO, Anderson V, Pantelis C, Pozzi E, Schwartz OS, Vijayakumar N, Richmond S, Deane C, Allen NB, Whittle S. Associations between cognitive and affective empathy and internalizing symptoms in late childhood. J Affect Disord 2021; 290:245-253. [PMID: 34010749 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2021.04.034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2020] [Revised: 01/26/2021] [Accepted: 04/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Empathy is a multidimensional construct, which includes cognitive and affective components. Studies in adults have demonstrated that both cognitive and affective empathy are associated with anxious and depressive symptoms. The aim of this study was to examine these associations in childhood. METHODS Participants were 127 9- and 10-year-old children, recruited from the community. Self-report measures of cognitive and affective empathy, and internalizing symptoms were administered, as well as a task-based measure of cognitive empathy. RESULTS Canonical correlation analysis demonstrated that components of affective empathy, specifically affective sharing and empathic distress, were associated with internalizing (particularly social anxiety) symptoms (Rc = 0.63, non-parametric p < .001). Cognitive empathy was not associated with internalizing symptoms. LIMITATIONS Most of our findings were based around self-report measures of empathy, which may not accurately reflect empathy ability. CONCLUSIONS Findings suggests that children who share each other's emotions strongly are more likely to experience anxiety, particularly of a social nature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine O Bray
- Melbourne Neuropsychiatry Centre (MNC), Department of Psychiatry, The University of Melbourne & Melbourne Health, Melbourne, Australia; Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia.
| | - Vicki Anderson
- Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia; Murdoch Children's Research Centre, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Christos Pantelis
- Melbourne Neuropsychiatry Centre (MNC), Department of Psychiatry, The University of Melbourne & Melbourne Health, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Elena Pozzi
- Melbourne Neuropsychiatry Centre (MNC), Department of Psychiatry, The University of Melbourne & Melbourne Health, Melbourne, Australia; Orygen, Melbourne Australia, Centre for Youth Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Australia
| | - Orli S Schwartz
- Orygen, Melbourne Australia, Centre for Youth Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Australia
| | | | - Sally Richmond
- Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health, School of Psychological Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Camille Deane
- School of Psychology, Deakin University, Melbourne, Australia
| | | | - Sarah Whittle
- Melbourne Neuropsychiatry Centre (MNC), Department of Psychiatry, The University of Melbourne & Melbourne Health, Melbourne, Australia
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17
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Chen H, Meza JI, Yan Y, Wu Q, Lin X. Parental attachment and depression in adolescents: Moderation mediation model of empathy and gender. CURRENT PSYCHOLOGY 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s12144-021-01698-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
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18
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Rütgen M, Pfabigan DM, Tik M, Kraus C, Pletti C, Sladky R, Klöbl M, Woletz M, Vanicek T, Windischberger C, Lanzenberger R, Lamm C. Detached empathic experience of others' pain in remitted states of depression - An fMRI study. Neuroimage Clin 2021; 31:102699. [PMID: 34049164 PMCID: PMC8167276 DOI: 10.1016/j.nicl.2021.102699] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2021] [Revised: 05/10/2021] [Accepted: 05/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Major depressive disorder is strongly associated with impairments and difficulties in social interactions. Deficits in empathy, a vital skill for social interactions, have been identified as a risk factor for relapse. However, research on empathy in remitted states of depression is scarce. We chose a social neuroscience approach to investigate potentially altered neural processes involved in sub-components of empathy in remitted states of depression. We expected aberrations in cognitive components of empathy, based on previous reports regarding their role as risk factors for relapse. METHODS Employing functional magnetic resonance imaging and a pain empathy task (video clips of painful medical treatments), we compared behavioral and neural empathic responses of unmedicated remitted depressive patients (N = 32) to those of untreated acutely depressed patients (N = 29) and healthy controls (N = 35). Self-report ratings of pain evaluation and affect-sharing were obtained. RESULTS Compared to controls and acutely depressed patients, remitted depressive patients reported higher pain evaluation and showed increased activity in the right temporo-parietal junction. This region, which is central to self-other distinction and which has been linked to adopting a detached perspective, also exhibited reduced connectivity to the anterior insula. Furthermore, we observed reduced activity in regions involved in emotion processing (amygdala) and perception of affective facial expressions (fusiform face area, posterior superior temporal sulcus). CONCLUSIONS Remitted states of depression are associated with a detached empathic style in response to others' pain, characterized by increased self-other distinction, lowered affective processing, and reduced connectivity between empathy-related brain regions. Although this may prevent emotional harm in specific situations, it may reduce opportunities for positive experiences in social interactions in the long run.
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Affiliation(s)
- Markus Rütgen
- Social, Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience Unit, Department of Cognition, Emotion, and Methods in Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
| | - Daniela Melitta Pfabigan
- Social, Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience Unit, Department of Cognition, Emotion, and Methods in Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Martin Tik
- Center for Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Christoph Kraus
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Carolina Pletti
- Social, Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience Unit, Department of Cognition, Emotion, and Methods in Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria; Developmental Psychology Unit, Department of Psychology and Pedagogy, Ludwig Maximilian University, Munich, Germany
| | - Ronald Sladky
- Social, Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience Unit, Department of Cognition, Emotion, and Methods in Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria; Center for Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Manfred Klöbl
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Michael Woletz
- Center for Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Thomas Vanicek
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Christian Windischberger
- Center for Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Rupert Lanzenberger
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Claus Lamm
- Social, Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience Unit, Department of Cognition, Emotion, and Methods in Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
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19
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Fei W, Geng Y, Wang S, Ma Q, Peng X, Zhang M, Zhang T. Association between parental control and subclinical depressive symptoms in a sample of college freshmen: Roles of empathy and gender. J Affect Disord 2021; 286:301-308. [PMID: 33756308 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2021.03.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2021] [Revised: 02/28/2021] [Accepted: 03/02/2021] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND College freshmen are at high-risk for depressive symptoms after experiencing drastic transitions in a new environment. Perceived parental control has proved as a prominent role in an adolescent's mental health. However, the further understandings of the mechanisms underlying the relation between perceived parental control and freshmen's depressive symptoms are urgent. METHODS A total of 4,297 Chinese freshmen (57% female) were recruited. They completed the self-report Parental Bonding Instrument (PBI), Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI), and University Personality Inventory (UPI), which assess parental control, empathy and depressive symptoms, respectively. The data were analysed using correlation analysis and a test of moderated mediation. RESULTS The results showed positive association between parental control and depressive symptoms, partially mediated by empathy. The relation between parental control and affective empathy, was moderated by gender. Specifically, maternal control had a more significant positive effect on males' personal distress. Moreover, the influence of paternal control was also greater for males, with a negative effect on empathic concern and positive on personal distress. CONCLUSIONS Parental control significantly positively predicted college freshmen's depressive symptoms, and empathy played a partially mediating role. In addition, the relations between parental control and affective empathy were moderated by freshmen's gender. The findings of this study provide a better understanding of how parental control is related to freshmen's depressive symptoms, offering a theoretical basis for promoting the development of adolescents' mental health and supporting the design of effective psychological interventions to relieve their depressive symptoms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenjing Fei
- School of Public Health, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Preventive and Translational Medicine for Geriatric Diseases, Medical College of Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Yiran Geng
- School of Public Health, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Preventive and Translational Medicine for Geriatric Diseases, Medical College of Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Shaishai Wang
- School of Public Health, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Preventive and Translational Medicine for Geriatric Diseases, Medical College of Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Qinghua Ma
- The third People's Hospital of Xiangcheng District, Suzhou, China
| | - Xiaoqin Peng
- Department of Mental Health, High School Attached to Northeast Normal University, Changchun, China
| | - Ming Zhang
- Research Center for Psychology and Behavioral Sciences, Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Tianyang Zhang
- School of Public Health, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Preventive and Translational Medicine for Geriatric Diseases, Medical College of Soochow University, Suzhou, China; Research Center for Psychology and Behavioral Sciences, Soochow University, Suzhou, China.
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20
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Maximiano-Barreto MA, Moretti Luchesi B, de Moura AB, Pavarini SCI, Chagas MHN. What factors are associated with affective and cognitive empathy in informal and formal caregivers of older people? Australas J Ageing 2021; 41:50-58. [PMID: 33884711 DOI: 10.1111/ajag.12959] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2020] [Revised: 03/25/2021] [Accepted: 03/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To analyse factors associated with affective and cognitive empathy in informal and formal caregivers of older people. METHODS A cross-sectional study was conducted with 111 formal and informal caregivers divided into three groups (lower, intermediate and higher empathy) based on the Multidimensional Interpersonal Reactivity Index score (total, affective and cognitive empathy). A sociodemographic questionnaire, the Zarit Burden Inventory, Patient Health Questionnaire-9 and Functional Assessment Questionnaire were applied. RESULTS The participants were predominantly women (91%), and median [IQR] age was 46 [33-57] years. In the multinomial regression analysis being an informal caregiver, being older and having depressive symptoms were associated with higher levels of empathy (total score and the affective domain). No associations were found for the cognitive domain. CONCLUSION A high level of empathy, especially affective empathy, was associated with depressive symptoms, older age and being an informal caregiver. Family relationships and the lack of training among informal caregivers should be explored.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Bruna Moretti Luchesi
- Undergraduate Course in Medicine and Postgraduate Program in Nursing, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso do Sul, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil
| | | | | | - Marcos Hortes Nisihara Chagas
- Psychology Department, Universidade Federal de São Carlos, São Carlos, Brazil.,Gerontology Department, Universidade Federal de São Carlos, São Carlos, Brazil.,Bairral Institute of Psychiatry, Itapira, Brazil
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21
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Empathy profiles differ by gender in people who have and have not attempted suicide. JOURNAL OF AFFECTIVE DISORDERS REPORTS 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jadr.2020.100024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
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22
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Liang YS, Yang HX, Zhang YJ, Cai XL, Wang YY, Ni K, Pu CC, Zhou SZ, Ma YT, Lui SSY, Wang Y, Yu X, Chan RCK. Validation of the Questionnaire of Cognitive and Affective Empathy in patients with schizophrenia, major depressive disorder and bipolar disorder. Cogn Neuropsychiatry 2020; 25:466-479. [PMID: 33172340 DOI: 10.1080/13546805.2020.1846025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Alteration of empathy is common in patients with psychiatric disorders. Reliable and valid assessment tools for measuring empathy of clinical samples is needed. The Questionnaire of Cognitive and Affective Empathy (QCAE) is a newly-developed instrument to capture cognitive and affective components of empathy. This study aimed to validate the QCAE and compared self-reported empathy between clinical groups with varied psychiatric diagnoses and healthy sample. METHODS The present study performed factor analysis for the QCAE on clinical samples in the Chinese setting (n = 534), including patients with schizophrenia (n = 158), bipolar disorder (n = 213) and major depressive disorder (n = 163). Internal consistency, internal correlation and convergent validity was examined in the subsample (n = 361). Group comparison among patients with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, major depressive disorder and healthy controls (n = 107) was conducted to assess the discriminant validity. RESULTS Our results indicated acceptable factor model, good reliability and validity of the QCAE. Impaired cognitive empathy was found in clinical samples, especially in patients with schizophrenia, while higher affective empathy was found in patients with bipolar disorder and major depressive disorder. CONCLUSION The QCAE is a useful tool in assessing empathy in patients with varied psychiatric diagnoses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yun-Si Liang
- Neuropsychology and Applied Cognitive Neuroscience Laboratory, CAS Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Institute of Psychology, Beijing, People's Republic of China.,Sino-Danish College, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, People's Republic of China.,Sino-Danish Center for Education and Research, Beijing, People's Republic of China.,Department of Psychology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Han-Xue Yang
- Neuropsychology and Applied Cognitive Neuroscience Laboratory, CAS Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Institute of Psychology, Beijing, People's Republic of China.,Department of Psychology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Yi-Jing Zhang
- Neuropsychology and Applied Cognitive Neuroscience Laboratory, CAS Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Institute of Psychology, Beijing, People's Republic of China.,Department of Psychology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Xin-Lu Cai
- Neuropsychology and Applied Cognitive Neuroscience Laboratory, CAS Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Institute of Psychology, Beijing, People's Republic of China.,Sino-Danish College, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, People's Republic of China.,Sino-Danish Center for Education and Research, Beijing, People's Republic of China.,Department of Psychology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Yan-Yu Wang
- School of Psychology, Weifang Medical University, Shandong, People's Republic of China
| | - Ke Ni
- Qiqihar Mental Health Center, Heilongjiang, People's Republic of China
| | - Cheng-Cheng Pu
- Peking University Sixth Hospital, Beijing, People's Republic of China.,Peking University Institute of Mental Health, Beijing, People's Republic of China.,NHC Key Laboratory of Mental Health (Peking University), Beijing, People's Republic of China.,National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders (Peking University Sixth Hospital), Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Shu-Zhe Zhou
- Peking University Sixth Hospital, Beijing, People's Republic of China.,Peking University Institute of Mental Health, Beijing, People's Republic of China.,NHC Key Laboratory of Mental Health (Peking University), Beijing, People's Republic of China.,National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders (Peking University Sixth Hospital), Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Yan-Tao Ma
- Peking University Sixth Hospital, Beijing, People's Republic of China.,Peking University Institute of Mental Health, Beijing, People's Republic of China.,NHC Key Laboratory of Mental Health (Peking University), Beijing, People's Republic of China.,National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders (Peking University Sixth Hospital), Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Simon S Y Lui
- Department of Psychiatry, the University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, People's Republic of China.,Castle Peak Hospital, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, People's Republic of China
| | - Yi Wang
- Neuropsychology and Applied Cognitive Neuroscience Laboratory, CAS Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Institute of Psychology, Beijing, People's Republic of China.,Department of Psychology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Xin Yu
- Peking University Sixth Hospital, Beijing, People's Republic of China.,Peking University Institute of Mental Health, Beijing, People's Republic of China.,NHC Key Laboratory of Mental Health (Peking University), Beijing, People's Republic of China.,National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders (Peking University Sixth Hospital), Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Raymond C K Chan
- Neuropsychology and Applied Cognitive Neuroscience Laboratory, CAS Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Institute of Psychology, Beijing, People's Republic of China.,Sino-Danish College, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, People's Republic of China.,Department of Psychology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, People's Republic of China
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23
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The role of empathy in the mechanism linking parental psychological control to emotional reactivities to COVID-19 pandemic: A pilot study among Chinese emerging adults. PERSONALITY AND INDIVIDUAL DIFFERENCES 2020; 168:110399. [PMID: 32982001 PMCID: PMC7500908 DOI: 10.1016/j.paid.2020.110399] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2020] [Revised: 09/07/2020] [Accepted: 09/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
The outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and its worldwide spread have brought economic, social and personal stress. To better understand human adjustments to this public health emergency and its underlying mechanism, the relationship between perceived parental psychological control in emerging adults and individual's emotional reactivity to COVID-19 as well as the role of empathy was examined. The study was conducted among 445 emerging adults using questionnaires measuring parental psychological control, empathy, and emotional reactivities in the initial stage of COVID-19. Results revealed that parental psychological control conferred risks for individual's increased negative emotional reactivity to this pandemic. Moreover, our findings shedlight on personal distress as a mechanism through which parental psychological control induces negative emotional reactivities. Although no direct effect between parental psychological control and positive emotional reactivity was found, personal distress and perspective taking mediate the association in an opposite way. Findings have implications for predicting and intervening mental health problems in COVID-19 pandemic and future public health emergency.
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24
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Empathy in multiple sclerosis––Correlates with cognitive, psychological and occupational functioning. Mult Scler Relat Disord 2020; 41:102036. [DOI: 10.1016/j.msard.2020.102036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2019] [Revised: 02/25/2020] [Accepted: 03/01/2020] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
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25
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Khosravani V, Samimi Ardestani SM, Alvani A, Amirinezhad A. Alexithymia, empathy, negative affect and physical symptoms in patients with asthma. Clin Psychol Psychother 2020; 27:736-748. [PMID: 32285550 DOI: 10.1002/cpp.2458] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2020] [Revised: 04/07/2020] [Accepted: 04/07/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Although alexithymia has been found to be associated with physical symptoms in psychosomatic disorders such as asthma, mechanisms linking this association are unknown. However, affective alexithymic features may be associated with physical symptoms in the presence of deficits in affective characteristics such as low empathy and high negative affect. This study aimed to assess direct effects of alexithymic traits on physical symptoms and indirect effects of these subscales through empathy and negative affect (e.g. depressive, anxious and stress symptoms) by controlling for asthma severity in patients with asthma. Three hundred patients with asthma completed the Toronto Alexithymia Scale-20 (TAS-20), the Basic Empathy Scale (BES), the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales-21 (DASS-21) and the Physical Symptoms Inventory (PSI). After controlling for asthma severity, the results showed that alexithymia subscales of the TAS-20 had no direct effects on physical symptoms, but the difficulty in identifying feelings (DIF) subscale of the TAS-20 was associated with affective empathy and negative affect. Affective empathy was significantly related to negative affect. Affective empathy and negative affect were associated with physical symptoms. The affective subscale of alexithymia on the TAS-20, that is DIF, indirectly affected physical symptoms through affective empathy and negative affect. Findings suggest that patients with asthma who have high levels of DIF may show high physical symptoms in the presence of low affective empathy and high negative affect.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vahid Khosravani
- Behavioral Sciences Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Seyed Mehdi Samimi Ardestani
- Department of Psychiatry, Behavioral Sciences Research Center, Imam Hossein Hospital, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Amin Alvani
- Psychosocial Injuries Research Center, Ilam University of Medical Sciences, Ilam, Iran
| | - Ali Amirinezhad
- Psychosocial Injuries Research Center, Ilam University of Medical Sciences, Ilam, Iran
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26
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Salo VC, Schunck SJ, Humphreys KL. Depressive symptoms in parents are associated with reduced empathy toward their young children. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0230636. [PMID: 32203542 PMCID: PMC7089529 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0230636] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2020] [Accepted: 03/04/2020] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND While depression is typically associated with reduced levels of empathy, this association differs depending on how empathy is measured. Given the importance of empathy in the parent-child relationship, we sought to examine whether the associations between depression and dispositional empathy would also extend to empathy towards one's own child. METHODS Within a non-clinical sample of 150 parents of young children, we examined the associations between self-reported depressive symptoms, dispositional empathic tendencies, and empathy specifically toward their own children, and how these associations might differ based on parent gender. RESULTS Depressive symptoms were related to lower levels of cognitive and affective empathy, and higher levels of empathic distress. Over and above the association with dispositional empathy, depressive symptoms were associated with reduced levels of parents' affective empathy toward their own child. The associations between depressive symptoms and both dispositional and own-child specific empathy varied by parent gender. For fathers, depressive symptoms predicted own-child specific affective empathy, over and above dispositional affective empathy, while for mothers, depressive symptoms predicted own-child specific empathic distress, over and above dispositional empathic distress. CONCLUSIONS The current findings provide further indication that caregivers with elevated depression may engage in patterns of thoughts and behaviors that have implications for their interactions with their children. Parents' experienced empathy toward their own child may be one mechanism by which depression impacts the early caregiving environment, and thus may be an important target for intervention in improving the early caregiving experiences for children at elevated risk due to parental depression. Differences in cognitive and affective empathy found among those with depression may be even more pronounced in the thoughts and feelings towards one's own child, making this an important clinical target.
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Affiliation(s)
- Virginia C. Salo
- Department of Psychology and Human Development, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, United States of America
| | - Sara J. Schunck
- Department of Psychology and Human Development, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, United States of America
| | - Kathryn L. Humphreys
- Department of Psychology and Human Development, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, United States of America
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27
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Pertz M, Okoniewski A, Schlegel U, Thoma P. Impairment of sociocognitive functions in patients with brain tumours. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2019; 108:370-392. [PMID: 31786319 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2019.11.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2019] [Revised: 09/24/2019] [Accepted: 11/25/2019] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
The ability to decode mental states and to come up with effective solutions for interpersonal problems aids successful initiation and maintenance of social interactions and contributes to participation and mental health. Since these abilities of social cognition are challenged in highly demanding situations, such as diagnosis and treatment of a life-threatening illness, this article reviews the literature on emotion recognition, empathy, Theory of Mind and socially skilled behaviour in brain tumour patients. The data available suggest that patients are affected by a slight but consistent impairment of emotion recognition, empathy and Theory of Mind before and immediately after brain tumour treatment, with the degree of impairment being influenced by tumour histology and localization. Impairments mostly decrease a few months after surgery due to assumed neuroplasticity. Future research may address more complex sociocognitive functions, such as social problem solving, and may investigate to which degree sociocognitive difficulties act as risk factors for poor or failed reintegration into occupational and social life following successful brain tumour treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Milena Pertz
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital Knappschaftskrankenhaus, Ruhr-University Bochum, In der Schornau 23-25, D-44892 Bochum, Germany.
| | - Annalena Okoniewski
- Neuropsychological Treatment Centre (NTC)/ Clinical Neuropsychology, Faculty of Psychology, Ruhr-University Bochum, Universitätsstraße 150, D-44780 Bochum, Germany
| | - Uwe Schlegel
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital Knappschaftskrankenhaus, Ruhr-University Bochum, In der Schornau 23-25, D-44892 Bochum, Germany
| | - Patrizia Thoma
- Neuropsychological Treatment Centre (NTC)/ Clinical Neuropsychology, Faculty of Psychology, Ruhr-University Bochum, Universitätsstraße 150, D-44780 Bochum, Germany
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Kim Y, Kwon A, Min D, Kim S, Jin MJ, Lee SH. Neurophysiological and Psychological Predictors of Social Functioning in Patients with Schizophrenia and Bipolar Disorder. Psychiatry Investig 2019; 16:718-727. [PMID: 31587532 PMCID: PMC6801316 DOI: 10.30773/pi.2019.07.28] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2019] [Accepted: 07/28/2019] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The aim of this study is to examine social functioning in patients with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder and explore the psychological and neurophysiological predictors of social functioning. METHODS Twenty-seven patients with schizophrenia and thirty patients with bipolar disorder, as well as twenty-five healthy controls, completed measures of social functioning (questionnaire of social functioning), neurocognition (Verbal fluency, Korean-Auditory Verbal Learning Test), and social cognition (basic empathy scale and Social Attribution Task-Multiple Choice), and the childhood trauma questionnaire (CTQ). For neurophysiological measurements, mismatch negativity and heart rate variability (HRV) were recorded from all participants. Multiple hierarchical regression was performed to explore the impact of factors on social functioning. RESULTS The results showed that CTQ-emotional neglect significantly predicted social functioning in schizophrenia group, while HRV-high frequency significantly predicted social functioning in bipolar disorder patients. Furthermore, emotional neglect and HRV-HF still predicted social functioning in all of the subjects after controlling for the diagnostic criteria. CONCLUSION Our results implicated that even though each group has different predictors of social functioning, early traumatic events and HRV could be important indicators of functional outcome irrespective of what group they are.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yourim Kim
- Clinical Emotion and Cognition Research Laboratory, Inje University, Goyang, Republic of Korea
| | - Aeran Kwon
- Clinical Emotion and Cognition Research Laboratory, Inje University, Goyang, Republic of Korea
| | - Dongil Min
- Clinical Emotion and Cognition Research Laboratory, Inje University, Goyang, Republic of Korea
| | - Sungkean Kim
- Clinical Emotion and Cognition Research Laboratory, Inje University, Goyang, Republic of Korea.,Department of Biomedical Engineering, Hanyang University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Min Jin Jin
- Clinical Emotion and Cognition Research Laboratory, Inje University, Goyang, Republic of Korea
| | - Seung-Hwan Lee
- Clinical Emotion and Cognition Research Laboratory, Inje University, Goyang, Republic of Korea.,Department of Psychiatry, Inje University, Ilsan-Paik Hospital, Goyang, Republic of Korea
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