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Müller J, Herpertz J, Taylor J, Suslow T, Lane RD, Donges US. Emotional awareness for self and others and empathic abilities in clinical depression during acute illness and recovery. BMC Psychiatry 2024; 24:488. [PMID: 38965469 PMCID: PMC11225305 DOI: 10.1186/s12888-024-05877-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2023] [Accepted: 05/29/2024] [Indexed: 07/06/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The present longitudinal investigation had two major goals. First, we intended to clarify whether depressed patients are characterized by impairments of emotional awareness for the self and the other during acute illness and whether these impairments diminish in the course of an inpatient psychiatric treatment program. Previous research based on the performance measure Levels of Emotional Awareness Scale (LEAS) provided inconsistent findings concerning emotional self-awareness in clinical depression. Second, we investigated whether cognitive and affective empathic abilities change from acute illness to recovery in depressed patients. METHODS Fifty-eight depressed patients were tested on admission and after 6-8 weeks of inpatient psychiatric treatment. A sample of fifty-three healthy individuals were also examined twice at an interval of 6-8 weeks. The LEAS and the Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI) were administered to assess emotional awareness and empathic abilities. Written texts were digitalized and then analyzed using the electronic scoring program geLEAS, the German electronic Levels of Emotional Awareness Scale. RESULTS Depressed patients reported more depressive symptoms than healthy controls and less severe depressive symptomatology at time 2 compared to time 1. Independent of time, depressed individuals tended to show lower geLEAS self scores and had lower geLEAS other scores than healthy individuals. Depressed patients showed higher personal distress scores than healthy individuals at both measurement times. No group differences were observed for the cognitive empathy scales of the IRI (perspective taking and fantasy) and empathic concern, but empathic concern decreased significantly in depressed patients from time 1 to time 2. Empathic abilities as assessed by the IRI were not significantly correlated with emotional awareness for others, neither in the whole sample, nor in the patient and control subsample. CONCLUSIONS Depressed patients seem to be characterized by impairments in emotional awareness of others during acute illness and recovery, but they also tend to show deficits in emotional self-awareness compared to healthy individuals. Self-reported cognitive empathic abilities seem to be at normal levels in depressed patients, but their heightened self-focused affective empathy may represent a vulnerability factor for depressive disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Janine Müller
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Martin Gropius Krankenhaus, Eberswalde, Germany
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Campus Charite Mitte, Universitätsmedizin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Julian Herpertz
- Institute for Translational Psychiatry, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Jacob Taylor
- David A. Dunlap Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Thomas Suslow
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University of Leipzig Medical Center, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Richard D Lane
- Departments of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, University of Arizona, Tucson, USA
| | - Uta-Susan Donges
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Martin Gropius Krankenhaus, Eberswalde, Germany.
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Campus Charite Mitte, Universitätsmedizin, Berlin, Germany.
- Department of Psychotherapy Science, Sigmund Freud University, Berlin, Germany.
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Hennefield L, Denton EG, Chen PG, Sheftall AH, Ayer L. Preteen Suicide Risk Screening in the Pediatric Outpatient Setting: A Clinical Pathway. J Acad Consult Liaison Psychiatry 2024:S2667-2960(24)00065-X. [PMID: 38908827 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaclp.2024.06.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2023] [Revised: 04/26/2024] [Accepted: 06/12/2024] [Indexed: 06/24/2024]
Abstract
We are in a youth mental health crisis with unprecedented and staggeringly high rates of suicidal ideations and suicide behaviors in preteens. In the United States, 14.5% of children aged 9-10 have experienced suicidal thoughts and behaviors, including 1.3% with a suicide attempt. American Academy of Pediatrics guidelines call for universal suicide risk screening of youth aged 12 years and older during preventative health care visits and screening in preteens aged 8-11 years when clinically indicated. However, what constitutes a clinical indication at 8-11 years can be difficult to systematically detect, and pediatric practitioners may not be equipped with necessary age-specific assessment tools. This is compounded by the lack of emphasis on preteen suicide risk screening (and focus on adolescents), which leaves practitioners without age-appropriate resources to make clinical determinations for at-risk preteens. The objective of this project was to develop an evidence-informed suicide risk screening pathway for pediatric practitioners to implement with preteen patients in outpatient settings. Suicide risk assessment in younger children (<8 years) is also briefly addressed. We convened a group of researchers and practitioners with expertise in preadolescent suicide, pediatric medicine, behavioral health screening integration with primary care, and child development. They reviewed the empirical literature and existing practice guidelines to iterate on a multi-informant clinical suicide risk screening pathway for preteens that includes both caregivers and preteens in the screening process. We also developed tools and accompanying guidelines for a preteen suicide risk screening workflow and risk determination to aid practitioners in deciding who, when, and how to screen. Finally, we provide scripts for introducing suicide risk screening to caregivers and preteens and to discuss screening findings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Hennefield
- Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO.
| | - Ellen-Ge Denton
- School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY
| | | | - Arielle H Sheftall
- School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY
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Kade SA, du Toit SA, Danielson CT, Schweizer S, Morrison AS, Ong DC, Prasad A, Holder LJ, Han J, Torok M, Wong QJJ. Aberrant cognitive empathy in individuals with elevated social anxiety and regulation with emotional working memory training. Cogn Emot 2024; 38:605-623. [PMID: 38349272 DOI: 10.1080/02699931.2024.2314981] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2023] [Accepted: 01/04/2024] [Indexed: 06/15/2024]
Abstract
Social anxiety may disrupt the empathic process, and well-regulated empathy is critical for navigating the social world. Two studies aimed to further understand empathy in the context of social anxiety. Study 1 compared individuals with elevated or normative social anxiety on a measure assessing cognitive and affective empathy for positive and negative emotions conveyed by other people ("targets"), completed under social threat. Relative to individuals with normative social anxiety, individuals with elevated social anxiety had greater cognitive empathy and no differences in affective empathy, regardless of emotion type. As greater cognitive empathy can be maladaptive, Study 2 tested whether this could be down-regulated. Individuals with elevated social anxiety underwent emotional working memory training (eWMT) for negative emotional information, or control training (CT). Effects on an empathy measure completed under social threat were assessed. Cognitive empathy for negative emotions decreased following eWMT but not CT, and this was only evident for those with higher pre-training working memory capacity. Cognitive empathy for positive emotions and affective empathy were not affected. Overall, social anxiety is associated with aberrant elevated cognitive empathy for negative and positive emotions, and the deviation in cognitive empathy for negative emotions can be regulated with eWMT for certain individuals.Trial registration: Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry identifier: ACTRN12618001196235..
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Affiliation(s)
- Saif A Kade
- School of Psychology, Western Sydney University, Sydney, Australia
| | - Simone A du Toit
- School of Psychology, Western Sydney University, Sydney, Australia
| | | | - Susanne Schweizer
- School of Psychology, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
| | - Amanda S Morrison
- Department of Psychology, California State University, Hayward, CA, USA
| | - Desmond C Ong
- Department of Psychology, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
| | - Ashni Prasad
- School of Psychology, Western Sydney University, Sydney, Australia
| | - Lauren J Holder
- School of Psychology, Western Sydney University, Sydney, Australia
| | - Jin Han
- Black Dog Institute, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
| | - Michelle Torok
- Black Dog Institute, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
| | - Quincy J J Wong
- School of Psychology, Western Sydney University, Sydney, Australia
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Zainal NH, Newman MG. Examining the Effects of a Brief, Fully Self-Guided Mindfulness Ecological Momentary Intervention on Empathy and Theory-of-Mind for Generalized Anxiety Disorder: Randomized Controlled Trial. JMIR Ment Health 2024; 11:e54412. [PMID: 38787613 PMCID: PMC11161716 DOI: 10.2196/54412] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2023] [Revised: 12/26/2023] [Accepted: 01/09/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The utility of brief mindfulness ecological momentary interventions (EMIs) to improve empathy and theory-of-mind has been underinvestigated, particularly in generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). OBJECTIVE In this randomized controlled trial, we aimed to examine the efficacy of a 14-day, fully self-guided, mindfulness EMI on the empathy and theory-of-mind domains for GAD. METHODS Adults (aged ≥18 y) diagnosed with GAD were randomized to a mindfulness EMI (68/110, 61.8%) or self-monitoring app (42/110, 38.2%) arm. They completed the Interpersonal Reactivity Index self-report empathy measure and theory-of-mind test (Bell-Lysaker Emotion Recognition Task) at prerandomization, postintervention, and 1-month follow-up (1MFU) time points. Hierarchical linear modeling was conducted with the intent-to-treat principle to determine prerandomization to postintervention (pre-post intervention) and prerandomization to 1MFU (pre-1MFU) changes, comparing the mindfulness EMI to self-monitoring. RESULTS Observed effects were generally stronger from pre-1MFU than from pre-post intervention time points. From pre-post intervention time points, the mindfulness EMI was more efficacious than the self-monitoring app on fantasy (the ability to imagine being in others' shoes; between-intervention effect size: Cohen d=0.26, P=.007; within-intervention effect size: Cohen d=0.22, P=.02 for the mindfulness EMI and Cohen d=-0.16, P=.10 for the self-monitoring app). From pre-1MFU time points, the mindfulness EMI, but not the self-monitoring app, improved theory-of-mind (a window into others' thoughts and intentions through abstract, propositional knowledge about their mental states, encompassing the ability to decipher social cues) and the fantasy, personal distress (stress when witnessing others' negative experiences), and perspective-taking (understanding others' perspective) empathy domains. The effect sizes were small to moderate (Cohen d=0.15-0.36; P<.001 to P=.01) for significant between-intervention effects from pre-1MFU time points. Furthermore, the within-intervention effect sizes for these significant outcomes were stronger for the mindfulness EMI (Cohen d=0.30-0.43; P<.001 to P=.03) than the self-monitoring app (Cohen d=-0.12 to 0.21; P=.001 to P>.99) from pre-1MFU time points. No between-intervention and within-intervention effects on empathic concern (feeling affection, compassion, and care when observing others in distress, primarily attending to their emotional well-being) were observed from pre-post intervention and pre-1MFU time points. CONCLUSIONS The brief mindfulness EMI improved specific domains of empathy (eg, fantasy, personal distress, and perspective-taking) and theory-of-mind with small to moderate effect sizes in persons with GAD. Higher-intensity, self-guided or coach-facilitated, multicomponent mindfulness EMIs targeting the optimization of social relationships are likely necessary to improve the empathic concern domain in this population. TRIAL REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04846777; https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT04846777.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nur Hani Zainal
- Department of Health Care Policy, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
- Department of Psychology, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Michelle G Newman
- Department of Psychology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, United States
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Dai X, Leung AKY. Motivations matter: moral and health-related motives indirectly relate to differential psychological health indicators among vegetarians. JOURNAL OF HEALTH, POPULATION, AND NUTRITION 2024; 43:56. [PMID: 38664782 PMCID: PMC11046848 DOI: 10.1186/s41043-024-00534-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2023] [Accepted: 03/03/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024]
Abstract
Due to rising popularity of vegetarianism in recent years, research interest has surged in examining the relationship between vegetarianism and psychological health. However, given inconsistent findings in prior research, the answer to whether practicing vegetarianism is associated with better or worse psychological health is still elusive. The present investigation aimed to demonstrate that vegetarians are not homogeneous in terms of psychological experiences, such that it is crucial to consider the motives behind vegetarians' dietary choice when examining their psychological health. In a survey study with 266 vegetarians and 104 omnivores, it was shown that health vegetarians displayed higher levels of disordered eating as compared to moral vegetarians and omnivores. Mediation analyses further revealed that, among vegetarians, health motivation was positively correlated with disordered eating tendencies, indirectly linking it with poorer psychological health; moral motivation was positively correlated with prosocial behavior, which in turn predicted better psychological health. These findings have implications for understanding the psychological health of vegetarians with different dietary motives and for developing interventions to promote their psychological health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoyu Dai
- School of Social Sciences, Singapore Management University, 10 Canning Rise, #04-11, Singapore, 178973, Singapore.
| | - Angela K-Y Leung
- School of Social Sciences, Singapore Management University, 10 Canning Rise, #04-11, Singapore, 178973, Singapore
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Luczejko AA, Hagelweide K, Stark R, Weigelt S, Christiansen H, Kieser M, Otto K, Reck C, Steinmayr R, Wirthwein L, Zietlow AL, Schwenck C. Empathy and psychopathology in children and adolescents: the role of parental mental illness and emotion regulation. Front Psychiatry 2024; 15:1366366. [PMID: 38651008 PMCID: PMC11033424 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2024.1366366] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2024] [Accepted: 03/22/2024] [Indexed: 04/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Objective Although empathy is known to be a strength, recent studies suggest that empathy can be a risk factor for psychopathology under certain conditions in children. This study examines parental mental illness as such a condition. Further, it aims to investigate whether maladaptive emotion regulation (ER) mediates the relationship between empathy and psychopathological symptoms of children. Methods Participants were 100 children of parents with a mental illness (55% female) and 87 children of parents without a mental illness (50% female) aged 6 - 16 years and their parents. Results Greater cognitive empathy was related to more psychopathological symptoms in COPMI, but not in COPWMI. In addition, in COPMI maladaptive ER mediated this relationship. In contrast, greater affective empathy was associated with more psychopathological symptoms regardless of whether parents had a mental illness. Conclusion Our findings highlight the importance of implementing preventive programs for COPMI that specifically target the reduction of maladaptive ER.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arleta A. Luczejko
- Department of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Giessen, Germany
| | - Klara Hagelweide
- Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Technical University Dortmund, Dortmund, Germany
| | - Rudolf Stark
- Department of Psychotherapy and Systems Neuroscience, Justus-Liebig University Giessen, Giessen, Germany
| | - Sarah Weigelt
- Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Technical University Dortmund, Dortmund, Germany
| | - Hanna Christiansen
- Department of Psychology, Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology, Philipps University Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Meinhard Kieser
- Institute of Medical Biometry, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Kathleen Otto
- Department of Work and Organizational Psychology, Philipps-University Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Corinna Reck
- Department of Psychology, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Germany
| | - Ricarda Steinmayr
- Department of Psychology, Technical University Dortmund, Dortmund, Germany
| | - Linda Wirthwein
- Department of Psychology, Technical University Dortmund, Dortmund, Germany
| | - Anna-Lena Zietlow
- Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology, Department of Psychology, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Christina Schwenck
- Department of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Giessen, Germany
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Ghiggia A, Castelli L, Adenzato M, Di Tella M. Emotional competencies and psychological distress: Is loneliness a mediating factor? Scand J Psychol 2024; 65:359-368. [PMID: 37986626 DOI: 10.1111/sjop.12987] [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: 05/23/2023] [Revised: 11/05/2023] [Accepted: 11/06/2023] [Indexed: 11/22/2023]
Abstract
Emotional competencies, such as emotion regulation and empathy, are essential for social interaction. Impairment of these skills has been associated with increased rates of anxiety/depressive symptoms and loneliness, which has been defined as the discrepancy between the desired and actual quality and quantity of social relationships a person maintains. The aim of the present study was to shed light on the associations between these constructs and to examine the possible mediating role of loneliness in the relationship between emotional competencies and anxiety/depressive symptoms in a sample of non-clinical individuals. A total of 298 participants were recruited for this study and were asked to complete a series of measures assessing difficulties in emotion regulation, empathy, loneliness, and anxiety/depressive symptoms. Regression and mediation models were tested to analyze the associations between these variables. Results showed that reduced emotional competencies in emotion regulation and empathy were both directly and indirectly associated with increased anxiety/depressive symptoms and emotional loneliness, which in turn was related to higher levels of psychological distress (with a partial mediation of loneliness). Overall, the present findings seem to indicate that emotional competencies play a key role in the experience of loneliness and psychological distress. Therefore, individuals reporting high levels of loneliness in combination with anxious/depressive symptoms should receive appropriate assessment and treatment of emotion regulation and empathic skills.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ada Ghiggia
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy
| | - Lorys Castelli
- Department of Psychology, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Mauro Adenzato
- Department of Psychology, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
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Konrad AC, Förster K, Stretton J, Dalgleish T, Böckler‐Raettig A, Trautwein F, Singer T, Kanske P. Risk factors for internalizing symptoms: The influence of empathy, theory of mind, and negative thinking processes. Hum Brain Mapp 2024; 45:e26576. [PMID: 38401139 PMCID: PMC10893974 DOI: 10.1002/hbm.26576] [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: 07/05/2023] [Revised: 11/16/2023] [Accepted: 12/14/2023] [Indexed: 02/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Internalizing symptoms such as elevated stress and sustained negative affect can be important warning signs for developing mental disorders. A recent theoretical framework suggests a complex interplay of empathy, theory of mind (ToM), and negative thinking processes as a crucial risk combination for internalizing symptoms. To disentangle these relationships, this study utilizes neural, behavioral, and self-report data to examine how the interplay between empathy, ToM, and negative thinking processes relates to stress and negative affect. We reanalyzed the baseline data of N = 302 healthy participants (57% female, Mage = 40.52, SDage = 9.30) who participated in a large-scale mental training study, the ReSource project. Empathy and ToM were assessed using a validated fMRI paradigm featuring naturalistic video stimuli and via self-report. Additional self-report scales were employed to measure internalizing symptoms (perceived stress, negative affect) and negative thinking processes (rumination and self-blame). Our results revealed linear associations of self-reported ToM and empathic distress with stress and negative affect. Also, both lower and higher, compared to average, activation in the anterior insula during empathic processing and in the middle temporal gyrus during ToM performance was significantly associated with internalizing symptoms. These associations were dependent on rumination and self-blame. Our findings indicate specific risk constellations for internalizing symptoms. Especially people with lower self-reported ToM and higher empathic distress may be at risk for more internalizing symptoms. Quadratic associations of empathy- and ToM-related brain activation with internalizing symptoms depended on negative thinking processes, suggesting differential effects of cognitive and affective functioning on internalizing symptoms. Using a multi-method approach, these findings advance current research by shedding light on which complex risk combinations of cognitive and affective functioning are relevant for internalizing symptoms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annika C. Konrad
- Clinical Psychology and Behavioral NeuroscienceTechnische Universität DresdenDresdenGermany
- MRC Cognition and Brain Sciences UnitUniversity of CambridgeCambridgeUK
| | - Katharina Förster
- Clinical Psychology and Behavioral NeuroscienceTechnische Universität DresdenDresdenGermany
| | - Jason Stretton
- MRC Cognition and Brain Sciences UnitUniversity of CambridgeCambridgeUK
| | - Tim Dalgleish
- MRC Cognition and Brain Sciences UnitUniversity of CambridgeCambridgeUK
| | | | - Fynn‐Mathis Trautwein
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Faculty of MedicineMedical Center—University of FreiburgFreiburg im BreisgauGermany
| | - Tania Singer
- Social Neuroscience LabMax Planck SocietyBerlinGermany
| | - Philipp Kanske
- Clinical Psychology and Behavioral NeuroscienceTechnische Universität DresdenDresdenGermany
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Nair TK, Waslin SM, Rodrigues GA, Datta S, Moore MT, Brumariu LE. A meta-analytic review of the relations between anxiety and empathy. J Anxiety Disord 2024; 101:102795. [PMID: 38039916 DOI: 10.1016/j.janxdis.2023.102795] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2023] [Revised: 10/27/2023] [Accepted: 11/08/2023] [Indexed: 12/03/2023]
Abstract
Although theory suggests that empathy may signal a risk for anxiety (Tone & Tully, 2014), the relation between these constructs remains unclear due to the lack of a quantitative synthesis of empirical findings. We addressed this question by conducting three meta-analyses assessing anxiety and general, cognitive, and affective empathy (k's = 70-102 samples; N's = 19,410-25,102 participants). Results suggest that anxiety has a small and significant association with general empathy (r = .08). The relation of clinical anxiety with cognitive empathy was significant but very weak (r = -.03), and small for affective empathy (r = .16). Geographic region and the type of cognitive (e.g., perspective taking, fantasy) and affective empathy (e.g., affective resonance, empathic concern) emerged as moderators. Results suggest that anxiety has a weaker association with general empathy but a stronger association with affective empathy in participants from predominantly collectivistic geographic regions. Further, greater anxiety was weakly associated with less perspective-taking and greater fantasy, and anxiety had a more modest association with empathic concern than other types of affective empathy. Targeting affective empathy (e.g., promoting coping strategies when faced with others' distress) in interventions for anxiety may be beneficial.
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Affiliation(s)
- Travis K Nair
- Adelphi University, Gordon F. Derner School of Psychology, 58 Cambridge Ave, Garden City, NY 11530 USA.
| | - Stephanie M Waslin
- Adelphi University, Gordon F. Derner School of Psychology, 58 Cambridge Ave, Garden City, NY 11530 USA
| | - Gabriela A Rodrigues
- Adelphi University, Gordon F. Derner School of Psychology, 58 Cambridge Ave, Garden City, NY 11530 USA
| | - Saumya Datta
- Adelphi University, Gordon F. Derner School of Psychology, 58 Cambridge Ave, Garden City, NY 11530 USA
| | - Michael T Moore
- Adelphi University, Gordon F. Derner School of Psychology, 58 Cambridge Ave, Garden City, NY 11530 USA
| | - Laura E Brumariu
- Adelphi University, Gordon F. Derner School of Psychology, 58 Cambridge Ave, Garden City, NY 11530 USA
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Larionow P, Preece DA. The Perth Empathy Scale: Psychometric Properties of the Polish Version and Its Mental Health Correlates. Eur J Investig Health Psychol Educ 2023; 13:2615-2629. [PMID: 37998072 PMCID: PMC10670358 DOI: 10.3390/ejihpe13110182] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2023] [Revised: 10/31/2023] [Accepted: 11/08/2023] [Indexed: 11/25/2023] Open
Abstract
The Perth Empathy Scale (PES) is a 20-item self-report questionnaire that assesses people's ability to recognize emotions in others (i.e., cognitive empathy) and vicariously experience other's emotions (i.e., affective empathy), across positive and negative emotions. Originally developed in English, the aim of our study was to introduce the first Polish version of the PES and test its psychometric performance. Our sample was 318 people (184 females, 134 males) with ages ranging from 18 to 77. The factor structure was verified with confirmatory factor analysis. Reliability was tested in terms of internal consistency and test-retest reliability. To explore convergent, divergent, and discriminant validity, we examined relationships between the PES and measures of depression, anxiety, and emotional intelligence. It was shown that the scale was characterized by the intended four-factor solution, thus supporting factorial validity. The internal consistency reliability was also good and test-retest reliability was moderate. The convergent, divergent, and discriminant validity were strong. The clinical importance of assessing affective empathy across both positive and negative emotions was supported. Overall, our results therefore suggest that the Polish version of the PES has strong psychometric performance and clinical relevance as a measure of the multidimensional empathy construct.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paweł Larionow
- Faculty of Psychology, Kazimierz Wielki University, 85-064 Bydgoszcz, Poland
| | - David A. Preece
- Faculty of Health Sciences, School of Population Health, Curtin University, Perth, WA 6102, Australia;
- School of Psychological Science, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA 6009, Australia
- Brain and Behaviour Division, Telethon Kids Institute, Perth, WA 6009, Australia
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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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13
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Tan X, Yang Y, Yu M. Longitudinal relationship of empathy and social anxiety among adolescents: The mediation roles of psychological inflexibility and rejection sensitivity. J Affect Disord 2023; 339:867-876. [PMID: 37467804 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2023.07.069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2022] [Revised: 06/17/2023] [Accepted: 07/14/2023] [Indexed: 07/21/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The purpose of study was to explore the roles of psychological inflexibility and rejection sensitivity in the relationship between (cognitive and affective) empathy and social anxiety among adolescents. METHODS A two-wave longitudinal design was adopted in the present study. A total of 2481 participants (41.60 % male; Mage = 16.48) aged from 13 to 21 in 2021 completed the Chinese Version of Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI-C), Short Mood and Feelings Questionnaire (SMFQ), Chinese version of the Acceptance and Action Questionnaire-II (AAQ-II), Avoidance and Fusion Questionnaire for Youth (AFQ-Y8), Child Rejection Sensitivity Questionnaire (CRSQ), and Social Anxiety Scale for Adolescent (SAS-A) at baseline assessment (T1), and completed the SAS-A again three months later (T2). RESULTS (1) Results showed, personal distress at T1 could significantly and positively predict social anxiety at T2. (2) Mediation analyses results demonstrated that adolescents' experience avoidance and rejection sensitivity at T1 were significant mediators between cognitive empathy at T1 and social anxiety at T2, but with the opposite effect. As for affective empathy, rejection sensitivity at T1 significantly mediated the relationship between adolescents' empathic concern at T1 and social anxiety at T2. Furthermore, experience avoidance and rejection sensitivity at T1 significantly mediated the association between personal distress at T1 and social anxiety at T2. CONCLUSIONS Cognitive and affective empathy had different roles in contributing to adolescents' social anxiety. The findings in the current study can also provide empirical support for targeting adolescents' social anxiety by reducing personal distress directly and decreasing experiential avoidance and rejection sensitivity indirectly.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xing Tan
- School of Psychology, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510631, PR China; The Guidance Centre for Student Development, Dongguan High School, Dongguan, Guangdong 523120, PR China
| | - Youtian Yang
- Centre for Psychological Health Education, Zhongshan Technician College, Zhongshan, Guangdong 528400, PR China
| | - Meng Yu
- Department of Psychology, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, PR China; Department of Psychiatry, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510282, PR China.
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14
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Palumbo IM, Patrick CJ, Latzman RD. Psychopathology in children: The transdiagnostic contribution of affiliative capacity and inhibitory control. Dev Psychopathol 2023; 35:1627-1642. [PMID: 35678172 DOI: 10.1017/s0954579422000347] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Recent initiatives have focused on integrating transdiagnostic biobehavioral processes or dispositions with dimensional models of psychopathology. Toward this goal, biobehavioral traits of affiliative capacity (AFF) and inhibitory control (INH) hold particular promise as they demonstrate transdiagnostic stability and predictive validity across developmental stages and differing measurement modalities. The current study employed data from different modes of measurement in a sample of 1830 children aged 5-10 years to test for associations of AFF and INH, individually and interactively, with broad dimensions of psychopathology. Low AFF, assessed via parent-report, evidenced predictive relations with distress- and externalizing-related problems. INH as assessed by cognitive-task performance did not relate itself to either psychopathology dimension, but it moderated the effects observed for low AFF, such that high INH protected against distress symptoms in low-AFF participants, whereas low INH amplified distress and externalizing symptoms in low-AFF participants. Results are discussed in the context of the interface of general trait transdiagnostic risk factors with quantitatively derived dimensional models of psychopathology.
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15
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Phua DY, Chen H, Yap F, Chong YS, Gluckman PD, Broekman BFP, Eriksson JG, Meaney MJ. Allostatic load in children: The cost of empathic concern. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2023; 120:e2217769120. [PMID: 37725642 PMCID: PMC10523447 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2217769120] [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: 10/18/2022] [Accepted: 07/26/2023] [Indexed: 09/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Early-life adversity affects long-term health outcomes but there is considerable interindividual variability in susceptibility to environmental influences. We proposed that positive psychological characteristics that reflect engagement with context, such as being concerned about people or performance on tasks (i.e., empathic concern), could moderate the interindividual variation in sensitivity to the quality of the early environment. We studied 526 children of various Asian nationalities in Singapore (46.6% female, 13.4% below the poverty line) with longitudinal data on perinatal and childhood experiences, maternal report on empathic concern of the child, and a comprehensive set of physiological measures reflecting pediatric allostatic load assessed at 6 y of age. The perinatal and childhood experiences included adversities and positive experiences. We found that cumulative adverse childhood experience was positively associated with allostatic load of children at 6 y of age at higher levels of empathic concern but not significantly associated at lower levels of empathic concern. This finding reveals evidence for the importance of empathic concern as a psychological characteristic that moderates the developmental impact of environmental influences, serving as a source for vulnerability to adversities in children.
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Affiliation(s)
- Desiree Y. Phua
- Translational Neuroscience Programme, Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences (SICS), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore117609, Republic of Singapore
| | - Helen Chen
- Department of Psychological Medicine, Kandang Kerbau Women’s and Children’s Hospital, Singapore229899, Republic of Singapore
- Paediatric Medicine Academic Clinical Programme, Duke-National University of Singapore, Singapore169857, Republic of Singapore
| | - Fabian Yap
- Department of Psychological Medicine, Kandang Kerbau Women’s and Children’s Hospital, Singapore229899, Republic of Singapore
- Department of Paediatric Medicine, Kandang Kerbay Women’s and Children’s Hospital, 100 Bukit Timah Road, Singapore229899, Republic of Singapore
| | - Yap Seng Chong
- Translational Neuroscience Programme, Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences (SICS), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore117609, Republic of Singapore
- Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, Human Potential Translational Research Programme and O&G Department, National University of Singapore, Singapore117597, Singapore
| | - Peter D. Gluckman
- Translational Neuroscience Programme, Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences (SICS), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore117609, Republic of Singapore
- Centre for Human Evolution, Adaptation and Disease, Liggins Institute, University of Auckland, Auckland1023, New Zealand
- Public Health Research Program, Folkhalsan Research Center, Helsinki00250, Finland
| | - Birit F. P. Broekman
- Department of Psychiatry, Amsterdam University Medical Centers (UMC) and Onze Lieve Vrouwe Gasthuis (OLVG), Vrije Universiteit (VU), Amsterdam1081 HV, The Netherlands
| | - Johan G. Eriksson
- Translational Neuroscience Programme, Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences (SICS), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore117609, Republic of Singapore
- Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, Human Potential Translational Research Programme and O&G Department, National University of Singapore, Singapore117597, Singapore
- Public Health Research Program, Folkhalsan Research Center, Helsinki00250, Finland
- Department of General Practice and Primary Health Care, University of Helsinki, Helsinki00100, Finland
| | - Michael J. Meaney
- Translational Neuroscience Programme, Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences (SICS), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore117609, Republic of Singapore
- Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, Human Potential Translational Research Programme and O&G Department, National University of Singapore, Singapore117597, Singapore
- Brain-Body Initiative, Department of Paediatrics, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore117597, Republic of Singapore
- Sackler Program for Epigenetics and Psychobiology at McGill University, MontrealQCH3A 0G4, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, Douglas Mental Health University Institute, McGill University, MontrealQCH3A 0G4, Canada
- Brain-Body Initiative, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore138632, Republic of Singapore
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16
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Liu F, Dong Y, Yuan Y, Jiang Y. Relationship Between Empathy and Interpersonal Distress of Chinese Left-Behind Children: The Role of Emotion Regulation and Gender. Psychol Res Behav Manag 2023; 16:3717-3726. [PMID: 37700881 PMCID: PMC10494921 DOI: 10.2147/prbm.s406801] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2023] [Accepted: 08/31/2023] [Indexed: 09/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Interpersonal relationship serve as crucial of social support and a sense of security for left-behind children, playing a compensatory role in mitigating the absence of familial affection. Interpersonal distress can significantly impact their mental well-being. Although previous research has established a connection between empathy and interpersonal distress, the mechanisms by which empathy triggers interpersonal distress, as well as potential gender-based variations in this relationship, remain elusive. To bridge this gap in knowledge, this study investigates the mediating influence of emotion regulation and the moderating impact of gender in the relationship between empathy and interpersonal distress. Methods A total of 713 rural left-behind children completed the Interpersonal Reactivity Index scale, Emotion Regulation Competence Scale, and Interpersonal Relationship Assessment Scale. Results Pearson correlation analyses suggested strong significant correlations among empathy, emotion regulation ability, and interpersonal distress. Path analyses indicated that emotion regulation ability mediated the relationship between empathy and interpersonal distress. Furthermore, hierarchical regression analyses suggest a moderating effect of gender in the relationship between empathy and emotion regulation ability. Discussion The present study reveals the role of emotion regulation ability and gender in the relationship between empathy and interpersonal distress, which has important theoretical and practical implications for the prevention and intervention of interpersonal distress in left-behind children. Moreover, it may strengthen the relationship between peer and teacher at school, and improve the quality of parent-child communication at home.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fangfang Liu
- School of Psychology, Northeast Normal University, Changchun, Jilin, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yinghan Dong
- School of Psychology, Northeast Normal University, Changchun, Jilin, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yuan Yuan
- School of Psychology, Northeast Normal University, Changchun, Jilin, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yingjie Jiang
- School of Psychology, Northeast Normal University, Changchun, Jilin, People’s Republic of China
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17
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Coxon C, Hepsomali P, Brandt K, Vauzour D, Costabile A. Personality, dietary identity, mental and sleep health in vegans and vegetarians: A preliminary cross-sectional study. Health Sci Rep 2023; 6:e1525. [PMID: 37621383 PMCID: PMC10444972 DOI: 10.1002/hsr2.1525] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2023] [Revised: 07/20/2023] [Accepted: 08/11/2023] [Indexed: 08/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Background and Aims Plant-based diets have gained popularity over the past decade. However, research regarding mental and sleep health benefits of following plant-based diets are conflicting. As there are associations between mental/sleep health and various personality traits, and personality may differ between individuals who follow different diets, in this preliminary study, we examined the associations between mental and sleep health and (i) personality and (ii) dietary identity in individuals who follow vegan and vegetarian diets. Methods Cross-sectional data on sociodemographic, personality traits, dietarian identity, overall mental health, depression, anxiety, stress, and sleep quality were collected from 57 vegan/vegetarian participants between the ages of 18-40. Results After controlling for various sociodemographic and lifestyle factors, linear regression models revealed that (i) higher dietarian private regard was a significant predictor of better overall mental health, (ii) lower levels of extraversion and higher levels of empathy predicted depression, (iii) higher levels of neuroticism and empathy predicted anxiety, (iv) higher levels of neuroticism, dietarian centrality, and neuroticism × centrality predicted stress, (v) higher levels of conscientiousness, lower levels of dietarian centrality, but higher levels of personal motivation and dietary strictness, as well as conscientiousness × centrality, conscientiousness × personal motivation, and conscientiousness × strictness predicted better sleep quality. Conclusions These preliminary findings suggest that not only personality traits, but also dietary identity was indeed related to mental and sleep health in individuals who follow plant-based diets.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Karen Brandt
- School of PsychologyUniversity of RoehamptonLondonUK
| | - David Vauzour
- Department of Nutrition and Preventive MedicineNorwich Medical School, University of East AngliaNorwichUK
| | - Adele Costabile
- School of Life and Health SciencesUniversity of RoehamptonLondonUK
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18
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Shrestha NR, Deason RG, Cordaro M, Howard K, Haskard-Zolnierek K. Evaluating the relationship of empathic concern to college students' responses to the COVID-19 pandemic. JOURNAL OF AMERICAN COLLEGE HEALTH : J OF ACH 2023:1-7. [PMID: 37437177 DOI: 10.1080/07448481.2023.2224432] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2022] [Revised: 04/19/2023] [Accepted: 06/01/2023] [Indexed: 07/14/2023]
Abstract
Objective: Empathic concern (EC) for others may be related to COVID-19 pandemic responses. Participants and methods: The purpose of this survey study was to examine differences in pandemic responses in 1,778 college students rated as low (LE) versus high (HE) on the EC subscale of the Interpersonal Reactivity Index. Results: HE participants reported greater concerns in numerous pandemic-related domains, including acquiring COVID-19; access to COVID-19 treatment; number of COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations, and deaths reported; staying employed; and being isolated for long periods of time. Generalized anxiety symptoms, depressive symptoms, and perceived stress scores were significantly higher for individuals in the HE group compared to the LE group. The HE group reported being significantly more adherent to health and safety recommendations than the LE group. Conclusions: Empathic concern for others is important for promoting college student prosocial behavior but is associated with anxiety and depression symptomatology during times of traumatic stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Neha R Shrestha
- Department of Psychology, Texas State University, San Marcos, Texas, USA
| | - Rebecca G Deason
- Department of Psychology, Texas State University, San Marcos, Texas, USA
| | - Millie Cordaro
- Department of Psychology, Texas State University, San Marcos, Texas, USA
| | - Krista Howard
- Department of Psychology, Texas State University, San Marcos, Texas, USA
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19
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Rudolfsson L. "I Want to Be Heard": Rape Victims' Encounters With Swedish Police. Violence Against Women 2023:10778012231176206. [PMID: 37248621 DOI: 10.1177/10778012231176206] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
Interactions with police are vitally important to victims' ability to process their trauma. This study focused on the experiences of victims who reported a rape to police in Sweden. Thirteen women participated in interviews; the material was analyzed using inductive thematic analysis. Findings include lack of information and the role of luck in finding an understanding officer; some found comfort, and some felt violated once again. Long processing times bound participants to their trauma. Findings highlight the need for improved knowledge of trauma among police, victims' needs for information and rights to support, and structural barriers that need to be addressed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa Rudolfsson
- Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
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20
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Henry LM, Watson KH, Cole DA, Torres S, Vreeland A, Siciliano RE, Anderson AS, Gruhn MA, Ciriegio A, Broll C, Ebert J, Kuhn T, Compas BE. Mean-level correspondence and moment-to-moment synchrony in adolescent and parent affect: Exploring associations with adolescent age and internalizing and externalizing symptoms. Dev Psychopathol 2023; 35:809-822. [PMID: 35387703 PMCID: PMC9881583 DOI: 10.1017/s0954579422000062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
Interactions with parents are integral in shaping the development of children's emotional processes. Important aspects of these interactions are overall (mean level) affective experience and affective synchrony (linkages between parent and child affect across time). Respectively, mean-level affect and affective synchrony reflect aspects of the content and structure of dyadic interactions. Most research on parent-child affect during dyadic interactions has focused on infancy and early childhood; adolescence, however, is a key period for both normative emotional development and the emergence of emotional disorders. We examined affect in early to mid-adolescents (N = 55, Mage = 12.27) and their parents using a video-mediated recall task of 10-min conflict-topic discussions. Using multilevel modeling, we found evidence of significant level-2 effects (mean affect) and level-1 effects (affective synchrony) for parents and their adolescents. Level-2 and level-1 associations were differentially moderated by adolescent age and adolescent internalizing and externalizing symptoms. More specifically, parent-adolescent synchrony was stronger when adolescents were older and had more internalizing problems. Further, more positive adolescent mean affect was associated with more positive parent affect (and vice versa), but only for dyads with low adolescent externalizing problems. Results underscore the importance of additional research examining parent-child affect in adolescence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lauren M. Henry
- Psychology and Human Development, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Kelly H. Watson
- Psychology and Human Development, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - David A. Cole
- Psychology and Human Development, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Sofia Torres
- Psychology and Human Development, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Allison Vreeland
- Psychology and Human Development, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
| | | | | | - Meredith A. Gruhn
- Psychology and Human Development, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Abagail Ciriegio
- Psychology and Human Development, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Cassandra Broll
- Psychology and Human Development, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Jon Ebert
- Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Tarah Kuhn
- Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Bruce E. Compas
- Psychology and Human Development, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
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21
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Balderas J, Bistricky SL, Gimenez-Zapiola M, Pascuzzi B, Millmann M, Short MB. Brief Online Intervention Model Promotes Sustained Helping Behavior Across 6 Months Following a Population-Wide Traumatic Event. Psychol Rep 2023:332941231164071. [PMID: 37079929 DOI: 10.1177/00332941231164071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/22/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Following natural disasters, early helping behavior often dissipates despite remaining disaster-related suffering and affective vulnerability in the community. Interventions that have successfully increased helping behaviors have included components of motivational interviewing (MI) and mindful compassion; however, this research is limited by laboratory-based settings and lengthy training sessions. Brief, portable, and efficient intervention is needed to increase accessibility to large groups simultaneously. METHOD The current study piloted a brief, online, self-administered MI and mindful compassion intervention administered 4-10 weeks post-Hurricane Harvey examining if it would sustain helping behaviors over the ensuing year. The study also examined potential moderators of the relationship between compassion for others and internalizing symptoms, and whether helping behaviors predicted post-traumatic stress symptoms. RESULTS The intervention group sustained the use of helping behaviors more than an active control group after 9-12 months. Also, compassion satisfaction and burnout moderated the relationship between compassion for others and post-traumatic stress and depressive symptoms at follow-up. CONCLUSIONS Results suggest a potentially useful model of how an efficiently distributed intervention might sustain helping behaviors after a natural disaster and provide insight into possible longitudinal risk and protective factors for post-traumatic stress and depressive symptoms among helping volunteers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica Balderas
- Department of Psychology, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS, USA
| | - Steven L Bistricky
- Department of Psychology, University of Houston-Clear Lake, Houston, TX, USA
| | | | - Bailey Pascuzzi
- Department of Psychology, University of Houston-Clear Lake, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Megan Millmann
- Department of Psychology, University of Houston-Clear Lake, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Mary B Short
- Department of Psychology, University of Houston-Clear Lake, Houston, TX, USA
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22
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Etkin RG, Bowker JC. Bidirectional Associations Between Friend Overprotection and Psychosocial Adjustment During Adolescence. J Youth Adolesc 2023; 52:780-793. [PMID: 36786907 DOI: 10.1007/s10964-023-01741-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2022] [Accepted: 01/30/2023] [Indexed: 02/15/2023]
Abstract
As friends increase in closeness and influence during adolescence, some friends may become overprotective, or excessively and intrusively protective. Engaging in overprotective behavior, and being the recipient of such behavior, may have positive and negative adjustment trade-offs. The current study examines, for the first time, bidirectional associations between friend overprotection and several adjustment trade-offs, including internalizing problems (i.e., depressive and anxiety symptoms), peer difficulties (i.e., rejection and physical and relational victimization), and positive friendship quality (i.e., closeness, help, and security) during early adolescence. Participants were 269 young adolescents (140 boys; Mage = 11.46, SD = 0.41) who completed self-report and peer nomination measures in their schools at two time points 4 months apart (Fall and Spring of the school year). Structural equation models revealed that being overprotected by a friend predicted decreases in friendship quality and was predicted by peer difficulties and internalizing problems (negatively). Being overprotective of friends predicted increases in internalizing symptoms and was predicted by peer difficulties. Findings are novel as they suggest that friend overprotection may be risky (and not beneficial) for both the overprotector and the overprotectee, setting the stage for future inquiry in this new area of peer relations research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca G Etkin
- Yale Child Study Center, Yale School of Medicine, 350 George St., New Haven, CT, 06511, USA.
| | - Julie C Bowker
- University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, Buffalo, NY, USA
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23
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Luis EO, Martínez M, Akrivou K, Scalzo G, Aoiz M, Orón Semper JV. The role of empathy in shared intentionality: Contributions from Inter-Processual Self theory. Front Psychol 2023; 14:1079950. [PMID: 36968699 PMCID: PMC10036387 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1079950] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2022] [Accepted: 02/22/2023] [Indexed: 03/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Research in psychology related to the conceptualization of empathy has been on the rise in the last decades. However, we argue that there is still space for further research to help capture the important notion of empathy and its theoretical and conceptual depth. Following a critical review of the current state of the research that conceptualizes and measures empathy, we focus on works that highlight the importance of a shared vision and its relevance in psychology and neuroscience. Considering the state of the art of current neuroscientific and psychological approaches to empathy, we argue for the relevance of shared intention and shared vision in empathy-related actions. Upon review of different models that emphasize a shared vision for informing research on empathy, we suggest that a newly developed theory of self, human growth and action–the so-called Inter-Processual Self theory (IPS)–can significantly and novelly inform the theorization on empathy beyond what the literature has stated to date. Then, we show how an understanding of integrity as a relational act that requires empathy is an essential mechanism for current key research on empathy and its related concepts and models. Ultimately, we aim to present IPS as a distinctive proposal to expand upon the conceptualization of empathy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elkin O. Luis
- Psychological Processes in Education and Health Group, School of Education and Psychology, University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
- Methods and Research in Affective and Cognitive Psychology, School of Education and Psychology, University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
| | - Martín Martínez
- Methods and Research in Affective and Cognitive Psychology, School of Education and Psychology, University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
| | - Kleio Akrivou
- Henley Business School, University of Reading, Reading, United Kingdom
- *Correspondence: Kleio Akrivou,
| | - Germán Scalzo
- School of Business, Universidad Panamericana, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Martín Aoiz
- Institute of Modern Languages, School of Education and Psychology, University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
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24
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Trach J, Garandeau CF, Malamut ST. Peer victimization and empathy for victims of bullying: A test of bidirectional associations in childhood and adolescence. Child Dev 2023. [PMID: 36794348 DOI: 10.1111/cdev.13907] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/17/2023]
Abstract
Anti-bullying interventions often assume that knowing how it feels to be bullied increases empathy for victims. However, longitudinal research on actual experiences of bullying and empathy is lacking. This study investigated whether within-person changes in victimization predicted changes in empathy over 1 year using random-intercept cross-lagged panel models. Self- and peer-reported victimization, and cognitive and affective empathy for victims were measured in a sample of 15,713 Finnish youth (Mage = 13.23, SDage = 2.01, 51.6% female; 92.5% had Finnish-speaking parents; data was collected in 2007-2009 when information about participants' race/ethnicity was not available due to ethical guidelines for the protection of personal information). Results indicated small, positive longitudinal associations from victimization to cognitive empathy. Implications for empathy-raising interventions are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica Trach
- INVEST Research Flagship, Department of Psychology, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
| | - Claire F Garandeau
- INVEST Research Flagship, Department of Psychology, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
| | - Sarah T Malamut
- INVEST Research Flagship, Department of Psychology, University of Turku, Turku, Finland.,Behavioural Science Institute, Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
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25
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Cai Z, Qi B. Cognitive flexibility as a protective factor for empathy. Front Psychol 2023; 13:1064494. [PMID: 36733867 PMCID: PMC9887175 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.1064494] [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: 10/08/2022] [Accepted: 12/15/2022] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Although cognitive flexibility has always been considered essential to empathy, the relevant findings have been inconsistent. Inconsistent results may be because cognitive flexibility is a multi-level structure, while empathy is also a multilayer structure, and there are differences in how researchers define and measure cognitive flexibility. Therefore, the study explores the relationship between cognitive flexibility and empathy from a multi-dimensional perspective. This study involved 105 China students aged between 18 and 22 (M age = 20.26, SD = 2.00) who completed the Cognitive Flexibility Scale (cognitive flexibility trait, cognitive flexibility at the individual level), perspective-switching flexibility task (perspective-switching flexibility, cognitive flexibility at the cognitive level), the Interpersonal Reactivity Index scale (IRI, traits empathy), Multi-dimensional Empathy Test (state empathy), 2-back task (inhibitory control), and Stroop task (working memory). After controlling for additional variables, the results showed that: (1) Cognitive flexibility traits negatively predicted trait cognitive (IRI-PT) and affective empathy (IRI-EC). (2) The Other/Self perspective-switching flexibility negatively predicted the affective component of state empathy. (3) Cognitive flexibility traits and Other/Self perspective-switching flexibility negatively predicted empathy even after controlling for one of these. The study's results suggested that cognitive flexibility negatively predicts empathy and is a protective factor for reducing the cost of empathy and promoting emotion regulation.
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Everett VS, Drabick DAG. Community Violence Exposure and Generalized Anxiety Symptoms: Do Callous-Unemotional Behaviors Moderate this Relation Among Urban Youth? Res Child Adolesc Psychopathol 2023; 51:87-102. [PMID: 36306004 DOI: 10.1007/s10802-022-00973-7] [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: 10/15/2021] [Revised: 04/19/2022] [Accepted: 08/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Community violence exposure (CVE; i.e., direct victimization and witnessed violence) is a major public health concern among youth who reside in low income, urban neighborhoods, who tend to experience CVE chronically and disproportionately. Frequent CVE is associated with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) symptoms, such as persistent or excessive worry and difficulty concentrating. However, not all youth experiencing CVE exhibit such symptoms. One understudied factor that may moderate this relation is callous-unemotional (CU) behaviors (e.g., behaviors consistent with lack of guilt, low levels of empathy). CU behaviors are associated with lower levels of responsiveness to contextual processes; as such, CU behaviors may be associated with lower levels of GAD symptoms in the context of CVE. However, little research considers CU behaviors and GAD symptoms concurrently. To address this gap, the present study examined associations among witnessed and direct CVE, CU behaviors, and GAD symptoms among low-income, urban youth (N = 104, 50% male, Mage = 9.93 ± 1.22 years old, 95% African-American/Black). Multiple regression analyses indicated teacher-reported CU behaviors moderated the relations between CVE and caregiver-reported GAD symptoms. Post-hoc probing revealed that among youth with higher levels of CVE, higher levels of CU behaviors were associated with elevated GAD symptoms compared to their peers with lower levels of CU behaviors. Youth with lower levels of CU behaviors evidenced moderate levels of GAD symptoms regardless of their levels of CVE. Thus, low-income, urban youth who experience elevated levels of CVE may be at increased risk for co-occurring GAD and CU symptoms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valerie S Everett
- Department of Psychology, Temple University, Weiss Hall 1701 N 13th Street, 19122-6011, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
| | - Deborah A G Drabick
- Department of Psychology, Temple University, Weiss Hall 1701 N 13th Street, 19122-6011, Philadelphia, PA, USA
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Oliveira-Silva P, Maia L, Coutinho J, Moreno AF, Penalba L, Frank B, Soares JM, Sampaio A, Gonçalves ÓF. Nodes of the default mode network implicated in the quality of empathic responses: A clinical perspective of the empathic response. Int J Clin Health Psychol 2023; 23:100319. [PMID: 36168601 PMCID: PMC9485908 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijchp.2022.100319] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2022] [Accepted: 05/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Patrícia Oliveira-Silva
- HNL - Human Neurobehavioral Laboratory, CEDH – Research Centre for Human Development, Faculty of Education and Psychology, Universidade Católica Portuguesa, Porto, Portugal
- Corresponding author.
| | - Liliana Maia
- Neuropsychophysiology Lab, CIPsi, School of Psychology, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
| | - Joana Coutinho
- Neuropsychophysiology Lab, CIPsi, School of Psychology, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
| | - Ana Filipa Moreno
- HNL - Human Neurobehavioral Laboratory, CEDH – Research Centre for Human Development, Faculty of Education and Psychology, Universidade Católica Portuguesa, Porto, Portugal
| | - Lucia Penalba
- HNL - Human Neurobehavioral Laboratory, CEDH – Research Centre for Human Development, Faculty of Education and Psychology, Universidade Católica Portuguesa, Porto, Portugal
| | | | - José Miguel Soares
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Health Sciences, ICVS, University of Minho, Campus Gualtar, Braga, Portugal
- ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal, Portugal
| | - Adriana Sampaio
- Neuropsychophysiology Lab, CIPsi, School of Psychology, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
| | - Óscar F. Gonçalves
- Proaction Lab, CINEICC – Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
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Li J, Liu C, Wulandari T, Wang P, Li K, Ren L, Liu X. The relationship between dimensions of empathy and symptoms of depression among university students during the COVID-19 pandemic: A network analysis. Front Public Health 2022; 10:1034119. [PMID: 36620303 PMCID: PMC9813512 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2022.1034119] [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: 09/01/2022] [Accepted: 11/29/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The relationship between different dimensions of empathy and individual symptoms of depression during the COVID-19 pandemic remains unclear, despite the established link between empathy and depression. The network analysis offers a novel framework for visualizing the association between empathy and depression as a complex system consisting of interacting nodes. In this study, we investigated the nuanced associations between different dimensions of empathy and individual symptoms of depression using a network model during the pandemic. Methods 1,177 students completed the Chinese version of the Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI), measuring dimensions of empathy, and the Chinese version of the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), measuring symptoms of depression. First, we investigated the nuanced associations between different dimensions of empathy and individual depressive symptoms. Then, we calculated the bridge expected influence to examine how different dimensions of empathy may activate or deactivate the symptoms of depression cluster. Finally, we conducted a network comparison test to explore whether network characteristics such as empathy-depression edges and bridge nodes differed between genders. Results First, our findings showed that personal distress was positively linked to symptoms of depression. These symptoms involved psychomotor agitation or retardation (edge weight = 0.18), sad mood (edge weight = 0.12), trouble with concentrating (edge weight = 0.11), and guilt (edge weight = 0.10). Perspective-taking was found to be negatively correlated with trouble with concentrating (edge weight = -0.11). Empathic concern was negatively associated with suicidal thoughts (edge weight = -0.10) and psychomotor agitation or retardation (edge weight = -0.08). Fantasy was not connected with any symptoms of depression. Second, personal distress and empathic concern were the most positive and negative influential nodes that bridged empathy and depression (values of bridge expected influence were 0.51 and -0.19 and values of predictability were 0.24 and 0.24, respectively). The estimates of the bridge expected influence on the nodes were adequately stable (correlation stability coefficient = 0.75). Finally, no sex differences in the studied network characteristics were observed. Conclusions This study applied network analysis to reveal potential pathways between different dimensions of empathy and individual symptoms of depression. The findings supported the existing theoretical system and contribute to the theoretical mechanism. We have also made efforts to suggest interventions and preventions based on personal distress and empathic concern, the two most important dimensions of empathy for depressive symptoms. These efforts may help Chinese university students to adopt better practical methods to overcome symptoms of depression during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiayi Li
- Military Medical Psychology School, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Chang Liu
- BrainPark, Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health and School of Psychological Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, VI, Australia
| | - Teresa Wulandari
- BrainPark, Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health and School of Psychological Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, VI, Australia
| | - Panhui Wang
- Military Medical Psychology School, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Kuiliang Li
- Department of Developmental Psychology for Armyman, School of Medical Psychology, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Lei Ren
- Military Medical Psychology School, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China,*Correspondence: Lei Ren
| | - Xufeng Liu
- Military Medical Psychology School, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China,Xufeng Liu
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Lan X. “Parents are gone”: Understanding the unique and interactive impacts of affective and cognitive empathy on left-behind youth’s academic engagement. CURRENT PSYCHOLOGY 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s12144-022-03952-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
AbstractAlthough several studies have shown that left-behind adolescents are vulnerable regarding emotional and behavioral functions, much less research has focused on this group’s academic engagement. The relationship between distinct empathy subcomponents and academic engagement in left-behind youth (versus non-left-behind youth) is therefore largely unknown. To fill these knowledge gaps, the current study compared the academic engagement between left-behind and non-left-behind youth. This study subsequently examined the unique and interactive relationships among affective empathy, cognitive empathy, and left-behind status with academic engagement in a combined sample of left-behind and non-left-behind youth. In total, 323 left-behind youth and 737 non-left-behind youth (Mage = 13.05; 49.5% females) participated in this study. Findings, after adjusting for participants’ sociodemographic characteristics, revealed that left-behind youth did not differ significantly in academic engagement compared to non-left-behind youth. A four-step hierarchical regression analysis showed that both empathy components were positively related to academic engagement. Interaction analyses further exhibited a cross-over effect of affective and cognitive empathy for left-behind youth. Specifically, left-behind youth with high cognitive empathy seemed more susceptible to the influence of affective empathy on academic engagement, for better and for worse. In the presence of high affective empathy, left-behind youth with higher cognitive empathy reported the highest academic engagement, whereas the youth with higher cognitive empathy, in the presence of low affective empathy, reported the lowest. The current study highlights the unique and interactive roles of affective and cognitive empathy in left-behind youth’s academic engagement, including important conceptual and practical implications.
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Gender Differences in the Relationship between State and Trait Anxiety and Empathy. CURRENT PSYCHOLOGY 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s12144-022-03716-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
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Dillon-Owens C, Findley-Van Nostrand D, Ojanen T, Buchholz C, Valdes O. Early Adolescent Cognitive and Affective Empathy. SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY 2022. [DOI: 10.1027/1864-9335/a000499] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Abstract. Cognitive and affective empathy have diverging relations to social–emotional adjustment. However, particularly during adolescence, these associations are not thoroughly understood. Using the Basic Empathy Scale (BES), we examined cognitive and affective empathy (including emotional contagion and emotional disconnection) in association with social–emotional adjustment (negative affect, shyness, social self-efficacy, friendship quality, and peer victimization) in early adolescents ( N = 321). Cognitive empathy and emotional contagion showed divergent links (cognitive empathy was related to positive adjustment, while emotional contagion was related to negative adjustment but also higher friendship quality). Emotional disconnection was negatively associated with social self-efficacy, supporting affective empathy as having multiple factors itself. The findings further validate the BES as a three-factor measure and have implications for understanding social–emotional adjustment in youth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cody Dillon-Owens
- Department of Psychology, University of North Carolina-Charlotte, Charlotte, NC, USA
| | | | - Tiina Ojanen
- Department of Psychology, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA
| | | | - Olivia Valdes
- Department of Psychology, Florida Atlantic University, Ft. Lauderdale, FL, USA
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Lanciano T, de Leonardis L, Curci A. The psychological effects of imprisonment: The role of cognitive, psychopathic and affective traits. EUROPES JOURNAL OF PSYCHOLOGY 2022; 18:262-278. [PMID: 36348818 PMCID: PMC9632560 DOI: 10.5964/ejop.3995] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2020] [Accepted: 04/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
The present cross-sectional correlational study aimed to investigate a set of cognitive, affective, and personality traits impacting the psychological effects of imprisonment. Ninety-three male inmates filled out a battery including measures of intelligence, working memory, psychopathy, aggressiveness, anxious trait, emotionality, rumination styles, and empathy proneness. Inmates' psychological outcomes were conceptualized in terms of mood, anxiety, depression, and general health. Results showed that inmates with high cognitive abilities, psychopathic impulsivity, proactive aggression, personal distress and fantasy, anxious and negative emotionality are mainly prone to ill-being psychological outcomes. Contrariwise, the fearless dominance trait, positive emotionality and empathic concern ability seem to expose inmates to positive psychological outcomes. Reactive aggression and perspective taking seem to impact both positive and negative moods. Ruminative style was unrelated to psychological outcomes. These preliminary results provide an insight into which factors intervention programs should be based upon in order to enhance well-being and reduce distress among inmates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tiziana Lanciano
- Department of Education, Psychology, Communication, University of Bari ‘Aldo Moro’, Bari, Italy
| | - Lidia de Leonardis
- Department of Education, Psychology, Communication, University of Bari ‘Aldo Moro’, Bari, Italy
| | - Antonietta Curci
- Department of Education, Psychology, Communication, University of Bari ‘Aldo Moro’, Bari, Italy
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Associations between Empathy and social anxiety in Childhood: the moderating role of mother-child conflict and peer rejection. CURRENT PSYCHOLOGY 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s12144-022-03537-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
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Guilt Feelings in Obsessive Compulsive Disorder: An Investigation between Diagnostic Groups. J Clin Med 2022; 11:jcm11164673. [PMID: 36012911 PMCID: PMC9409889 DOI: 10.3390/jcm11164673] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2022] [Revised: 07/15/2022] [Accepted: 07/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Guilt plays a role in various forms of psychopathology. However, different types of guilt might be involved in different mental disorders. Obsessive-compulsive (OC) patients are prone to a type of guilt in which the violation of an internalized moral norm is necessary and sufficient, whereas data suggest that depression might be linked to more interpersonal types of guilt. However, the extent to which a specific guilt phenomenology is involved in each condition is yet to be determined. Here we assessed the association between different types of guilt and different diagnostic groups. Two clinical samples (33 OCD and 35 non-OCD) filled in the Moral Orientation Guilt Scale (MOGS) along with other OCD and depression measures. Regression was employed to test group differences in the MOGS subscales and to test the influence of MOGS subscales on OCD and depression levels. Results confirm that different types of guilt might be implicated in different psychopathological conditions. Specifically, moral norm violation guilt is more present in OC patients than in other disorders. Depression seems to be associated with different guilt feelings depending on the psychopathological condition, specifically in non-OC patients, with types of guilt involving a “victim”, supporting the accounts viewing interpersonal guilt as involved in the emergence of depressive symptomatology and hyper-altruistic behavior as a vulnerability factor for depression.
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Liang Z, Mazzeschi C, Delvecchio E. Empathy questionnaire for children and adolescents: Italian validation. EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF DEVELOPMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY 2022. [DOI: 10.1080/17405629.2022.2096000] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Ziqin Liang
- Department of Philosophy, Social Sciences and Education, University of Perugia, Italy
| | - Claudia Mazzeschi
- Department of Philosophy, Social Sciences and Education, University of Perugia, Italy
| | - Elisa Delvecchio
- Department of Philosophy, Social Sciences and Education, University of Perugia, Italy
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Yan Z, Zhu X, Zhou K, Deng Q, Zeng X. The Mediating Role of Affective Empathy in the Relationship Between Insecure Attachment and Depressive Symptoms Among Emerging Adult. JOURNAL OF ADULT DEVELOPMENT 2022; 29:279-286. [PMID: 35600507 PMCID: PMC9107597 DOI: 10.1007/s10804-022-09402-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
Insecure attachment is regarded as a risk factor for depressive symptoms. However, insecure attachment can be divided into attachment avoidance and anxiety, so a better understanding of the relationship between attachment avoidance, attachment anxiety, and depressive symptoms is needed. The current study applied a structural equation model to verify our hypothesis that different facets of affective empathy mediate the relationship between attachment avoidance, attachment anxiety, and depressive symptoms. The participants of this study included four hundred and sixty-four undergraduate students who completed the Experiences in Close Relationships-Relationship Structures Questionnaire, Interpersonal Reactivity Index, and Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale. The results indicated that the correlation between attachment avoidance and depressive symptoms was mediated by empathic concern, while the correlation between attachment anxiety and depressive symptoms was mediated by personal distress. These results implied that attachment avoidance and attachment anxiety work on depressive symptoms through different pathways.
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Miller JG, Bartholomay KL, Lee CH, Bruno JL, Lightbody AA, Reiss AL. Empathy and Anxiety in Young Girls with Fragile X Syndrome. J Autism Dev Disord 2022; 52:2213-2223. [PMID: 34081299 PMCID: PMC8639840 DOI: 10.1007/s10803-021-05105-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/20/2021] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
We tested whether empathy is impaired and associated with anxiety in girls with fragile X syndrome (FXS). We measured parent-reported empathy and self-reported anxiety in young girls with FXS and in a developmentally-matched comparison group. Girls with FXS received higher parent-reported scores on cognitive and affective empathy but also self-reported more severe anxiety symptoms, particularly separation anxiety and phobia symptoms, than girls in the comparison group. Girls with FXS who received higher cognitive empathy scores, however, appeared buffered against risk for separation anxiety and phobia symptoms. Girls with FXS experience elevated empathy and anxiety relative to their developmentally-matched peers. Higher cognitive empathy in girls with FXS may indicate resilience against specific forms of anxiety that are commonly observed in FXS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonas G Miller
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, 401 Quarry Road, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA.
| | - Kristi L Bartholomay
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, 401 Quarry Road, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
| | - Cindy H Lee
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, 401 Quarry Road, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
| | - Jennifer L Bruno
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, 401 Quarry Road, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
| | - Amy A Lightbody
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, 401 Quarry Road, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
| | - Allan L Reiss
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, 401 Quarry Road, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
- Department of Radiology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
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Chocho-Orellana ÁX, Samper-García P, Malonda-Vidal E, Llorca-Mestre A, Zarco-Alpuente A, Mestre-Escrivá V. Psychosocial Effects of COVID-19 in the Ecuadorian and Spanish Populations: A Cross-Cultural Study. Front Psychol 2022; 13:803290. [PMID: 35572278 PMCID: PMC9099241 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.803290] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2021] [Accepted: 03/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The world's population is currently overcoming one of the worst pandemics, and the psychological and social effects of this are becoming more apparent. We will present an analysis of the psychosocial effects of COVID-19: first, a cross-sectional study in an Ecuadorian sample (n = 301) and second, a comparative study between two samples from the Ecuadorian and Spanish populations (n = 83 each one). Participants completed an online survey to (1) describe how they felt (depression, anxiety, and stress) before and after confinement; (2) analyze which emotional and behavioral variables predict depressive symptoms, anxiety, and stress perceived after the confinement; (3) carry out a comparative study in a sample of Ecuadorian and Spanish surveys. Results indicate, first, that Ecuadorians experience significantly more depressive symptoms, anxiety, and stress after confinement. Second, variables which predict depressive symptoms and anxiety are greater public prosocial tendency, less stress as a challenge, and greater stress as a threat, as well as an empathetic tendency that implies greater emotional regulation. Experienced stress after confinement was predicted by a greater public prosocial tendency, as well as an empathetic tendency. Finally, scores for depression, anxiety, and stress are higher after confinement in both countries. However, results reveal the similarity of the psychosocial effects that are being experienced, regardless of the country, and the differences in the variables that can help explain these effects. This can contribute to the constitution of intervention plans which aim to soften and alleviate the effects produced by a situation such as that experienced with COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ángela Ximena Chocho-Orellana
- Department Educational Psychology, Faculty of Philosophy, Letters and Educational Sciences, University of Azuay, Cuenca, Ecuador
| | - Paula Samper-García
- Faculty of Psychology, Department of Basic Psychology, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain
- *Correspondence: Paula Samper-García
| | - Elisabeth Malonda-Vidal
- Faculty of Psychology, Department of Basic Psychology, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain
| | - Anna Llorca-Mestre
- Faculty of Psychology, Department of Basic Psychology, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain
| | - Alfredo Zarco-Alpuente
- Faculty of Psychology, Department of Basic Psychology, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain
| | - Vicenta Mestre-Escrivá
- Faculty of Psychology, Department of Basic Psychology, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain
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Wendt FR, Warrier V, Pathak GA, Koenen KC, Stein MB, Krystal JH, Pietrzak RH, Gelernter J, Goldfarb EV, Baron-Cohen S, Polimanti R. Polygenic scores for empathy associate with posttraumatic stress severity in response to certain traumatic events. Neurobiol Stress 2022; 17:100439. [PMID: 35242894 PMCID: PMC8881478 DOI: 10.1016/j.ynstr.2022.100439] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2021] [Revised: 01/27/2022] [Accepted: 02/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is triggered by environmental stressors. Empathy may predispose an individual to respond to life events differently if high empathizers are emotionally more sensitive to trauma. For the first time, we test this hypothesis using genetic information. Methods We applied polygenic scoring (PGS) to investigate the shared genetics linking empathy (measured using the Empathy Quotient (EQ), a self-report measure of empathy; N = 46,861) and PTSD symptom severity (measured using the 6-item PTSD Checklist 6-item (PCL-6)) in the UK Biobank (N = 126,219). Follow-up analyses were performed in the context of (1) experiencing any of 16 potential traumas, (2) the total number of traumas endorsed, and (3) the context of trauma. Autism, depression, generalized anxiety, and PCL-17 PGS were included as covariates to verify the specificity of the effect. Results EQPGS associated with PCL-6 (R2 = 0.012%, P = 9.35 × 10−5). This effect remained significant after accounting for autism, depression, PTSD, and anxiety PGS but was observed only in those who endorsed experiencing at least one traumatic event. EQPGS showed the strongest effect on PCL-6 (β = 2.32, s.e. = 0.762, P = 0.002) among those who endorsed childhood neglect/abuse (felt hated as a child). With respect to case status, the highest probability of PTSD was 17.93% and 10.04% for those who endorsed “feeling hated as a child” and those who did not, respectively (Pdiff = 0.011; Cohen's d = 1.951, 95%CI 1.70–2.20). Conclusions A genetic predisposition to higher empathy, which may index greater emotional sensitivity, predisposes an individual to more severe PTSD symptoms, especially after early-life adversity.
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Mothers' parenting stress, depression, marital conflict, and marital satisfaction: The moderating effect of fathers' empathy tendency. J Affect Disord 2022; 299:682-690. [PMID: 34953927 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2021.12.079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2021] [Revised: 11/06/2021] [Accepted: 12/19/2021] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The decreased marriage satisfaction has become one of the main reasons for the rising divorce rate. However, few studies have focused on the relationship between mother's parenting stress, mental health, and marriage satisfaction. This study addressed this research gap by examining the direct influence of mothers' parental stress on their marital satisfaction, and the indirect influence of depression and marital conflict. Additionally, we explored the moderating effect of fathers' empathy tendency. METHODS Using a sample of parenting couples in Southwest China (n = 2,979) to conduct a questionnaire survey, a moderated mediation analysis was performed to simultaneously analyze the chain mediation of depression and marital conflict, and the moderating role of fathers'' empathy. RESULTS The mother's childcare pressure was negatively correlated with marital satisfaction (β = -0.478, p < 0.001). Depression and marital conflict have a chain mediating effect in explaining the relationship between mothers'' parenting stress and marital satisfaction (b = -0.064, 95% CI [-0.075, -0.053]). It is important to note that fathers with cognitive empathy can alleviate depression and marital conflict caused by the mothers' parental stress and a decrease in marital satisfaction, while fathers with high empathy can exacerbate these negative effects. CONCLUSION The study's findings identify the serious impact of contemporary female parenting pressure on marital satisfaction and confirm the important role of husbands' empathy. LIMITATIONS The scope of the survey is single, the parenting period is not staged, and there may be limitations such as overlapping stressors, which can be corrected in future research.
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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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Greenmyer JR, Montgomery M, Hosford C, Burd M, Miller V, Storandt MH, Lakpa KL, Tiongson C. Guilt and Burnout in Medical Students. TEACHING AND LEARNING IN MEDICINE 2022; 34:69-77. [PMID: 33722144 DOI: 10.1080/10401334.2021.1891544] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
THEORY Burnout is prevalent among medical students and is correlated with negative feelings, behaviors, and outcomes. Empathy is a desired trait for medical students that has been correlated with reduced burnout. The concept of guilt is closely related to concern about the well-being of others; therefore, feelings of guilt may be associated with empathy. Excessive guilt poses an increased risk for internalized distress, symptoms such as anhedonia, and may be related to burnout. The relationship between pathogenic guilt and burnout in medical students is unknown. HYPOTHESIS We hypothesize that pathogenic guilt is present and related to both burnout and empathy in medical students. METHODS We conducted a cross-sectional survey study of all students in one medical school. Data were collected in February 2020. The Oldenburg Burnout Inventory (OBLI), Toronto Empathy Questionnaire (TEQ), and Interpersonal Guilt Questionaire-67 (IGQ-67) were used. A modified version of IGQ-67 was used to measure four subscales of pathogenic guilt: survival guilt, separation guilt, omnipotence guilt, and self-hate guilt. Data analyses for this study including screening, evaluation of assumptions, descriptive statistics, reliabilities, one-way ANOVA, and correlation coefficients, were conducted using SPSS version 26. RESULTS Of 300, 168 (56.0%) students participated in the study. Survival, omnipotence, and self-hate classes of pathogenic guilt were positively correlated with burnout. Empathy was correlated with two classes of pathogenic guilt: survival and omnipotence. Empathy was inversely related to burnout (disengagement). CONCLUSIONS Pathogenic guilt may be a contributor to burnout in medical students. Guilt should be a target of prevention and treatment in burnout in medical students. UNLABELLED Supplemental data for this article is available online at https://doi.org/10.1080/10401334.2021.1891544.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacob R Greenmyer
- Department of Community Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of North Dakota School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Grand Forks, North Dakota, USA
| | - Michelle Montgomery
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of North Dakota School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Grand Forks, North Dakota, USA
| | - Charles Hosford
- Educational Resources, University of North Dakota School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Grand Forks, North Dakota, USA
| | - Michael Burd
- Public Health Program, University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, North Dakota, USA
| | - Vanessa Miller
- Department of Family Medicine, University of North Dakota School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Grand Forks, North Dakota, USA
| | - Michael H Storandt
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of North Dakota School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Grand Forks, North Dakota, USA
| | - Koffi L Lakpa
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of North Dakota School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Grand Forks, North Dakota, USA
| | - Christopher Tiongson
- Department of Pediatrics, University of North Dakota School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Grand Forks, North Dakota, USA
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Trautmann S, Wittgens C, Muehlhan M, Kanske P. The Role of Socio-Affective and Socio-Cognitive Mechanisms in the Processing of Witnessed Traumatic Events. Front Psychiatry 2022; 13:830218. [PMID: 35360123 PMCID: PMC8963708 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2022.830218] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2021] [Accepted: 02/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Sebastian Trautmann
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Human Sciences, Medical School Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany.,ICPP Institute of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Medical School Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Charlotte Wittgens
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Human Sciences, Medical School Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany.,ICPP Institute of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Medical School Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Markus Muehlhan
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Human Sciences, Medical School Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany.,ICAN Institute for Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience, Medical School Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Philipp Kanske
- Institute of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Faculty of Psychology, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
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44
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Simon P, Nader-Grosbois N. Preschoolers' Empathy Profiles and Their Social Adjustment. Front Psychol 2021; 12:782500. [PMID: 34956001 PMCID: PMC8704132 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.782500] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2021] [Accepted: 11/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Preschoolers face new challenges in their social life: the development of social and emotional abilities in order to have positive relationships with peers and adults. Empathy, the ability to share and understand the emotions of others, contributes to this socio-emotional adjustment. This exploratory study examines mothers and fathers' perceptions of their child's empathy and individual factors, such as age, gender, and personality, which are related to cognitive and affective empathy in 63 typically developing preschoolers. Links between children's individual characteristics (empathy and personality) and their social adjustment on the one hand and risk of developing internalized vs. externalized behaviors on the other were also investigated. Parents completed four questionnaires about their child's empathy, personality, and social (mal)adjustment. The results showed that mothers and fathers perceived their children's cognitive and affective empathy, attention to others' feelings, and social actions (such as helping), in the same way, except for emotion contagion. Gender differences appeared specifically for some components of empathy: girls were said to pay more attention to others' emotions while boys had better cognitive empathy. Moreover, children's empathy as perceived by mothers or fathers was positively linked with their age, and with personality factors (extraversion, emotional stability, agreeableness, and openness to experience). Cognitive empathy and personality were found to be partly related to higher social skills and lower externalized and internalized behaviors. The results nuanced specific links between cognitive and affective empathy and social adjustment as well as behavior problems at preschool age. These results may have some implications for future research and prevention in childhood.
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Affiliation(s)
- Poline Simon
- Chair Baron Frère in Special Education, Psychological Sciences Research Institute, Université Catholique de Louvain, Louvain-La-Neuve, Belgium
| | - Nathalie Nader-Grosbois
- Chair Baron Frère in Special Education, Psychological Sciences Research Institute, Université Catholique de Louvain, Louvain-La-Neuve, Belgium
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45
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Rong T, Sun X, Zhang Z, Li W, Deng Y, Wang Z, Meng M, Zhu Q, Jiang Y, Zhao J, Zhang Y, Wang G, Jiang F. The association between sleep and empathy in young preschoolers: A population study. J Sleep Res 2021; 31:e13530. [PMID: 34904310 DOI: 10.1111/jsr.13530] [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: 08/04/2021] [Revised: 10/12/2021] [Accepted: 11/23/2021] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
Sleep is vital for children's early socio-emotional development, particularly empathy. This study aimed to explore the associations between sleep and empathy in young preschoolers. A sample of 23,259 preschoolers (4.3 ± 0.3 years) at the entry year of preschool was recruited as part of the Shanghai Children's Health, Education and Lifestyle Evaluation-Preschool (SCHEDULE-P) study. Caregivers reported on child sleep, affective empathy, and cognitive empathy through the Children's Sleep Habits Questionnaire and the Griffith Empathy Measure. Ordinary least-square regression and quantile regression were performed for the associations between sleep and empathy. Sex differences were also investigated. Night sleep duration was negatively associated with affective empathy (β = -0.35, p < 0.001), and positively associated with cognitive empathy (β = 0.41, p < 0.001). Longer nap duration was associated with higher affective empathy (β = 0.28, p < 0.001). Sleep disturbances were positively associated with affective empathy (β = 0.04, p < 0.001) and negatively associated with cognitive empathy (β = -0.09, p < 0.001). These associations were generally stronger in children at higher empathy quantiles and also those at the 10th cognitive empathy quantile. The associations between sleep and affective empathy were mainly contributed by girls, and were more common in boys in terms of cognitive empathy, particularly at the 10th and the 30th quantiles. In conclusion, longer night sleep duration and fewer sleep disturbances are associated with a more mature empathy pattern in young preschoolers. The associations are more prominent in children at the higher end of the empathy spectrum, and vary by sex. These findings highlight the importance to promote sleep health in young children for optimal socio-emotional development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tingyu Rong
- Department of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, Shanghai Children's Medical Center, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.,Pediatric Translational Medicine Institute, Shanghai Children's Medical Center, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.,MOE-Shanghai Key Laboratory of Children's Environmental Health, Xinhua Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiaoning Sun
- Department of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, Shanghai Children's Medical Center, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.,Pediatric Translational Medicine Institute, Shanghai Children's Medical Center, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.,MOE-Shanghai Key Laboratory of Children's Environmental Health, Xinhua Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.,Shanghai Center for Brain Science and Brain-Inspired Technology, Shanghai, China
| | - Zichen Zhang
- Department of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, Shanghai Children's Medical Center, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.,Pediatric Translational Medicine Institute, Shanghai Children's Medical Center, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.,MOE-Shanghai Key Laboratory of Children's Environmental Health, Xinhua Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Wen Li
- Department of Pediatrics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Yujiao Deng
- Department of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, Shanghai Children's Medical Center, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.,Pediatric Translational Medicine Institute, Shanghai Children's Medical Center, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.,MOE-Shanghai Key Laboratory of Children's Environmental Health, Xinhua Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Zijing Wang
- Department of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, Shanghai Children's Medical Center, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.,Pediatric Translational Medicine Institute, Shanghai Children's Medical Center, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.,MOE-Shanghai Key Laboratory of Children's Environmental Health, Xinhua Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Min Meng
- Department of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, Shanghai Children's Medical Center, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.,Pediatric Translational Medicine Institute, Shanghai Children's Medical Center, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.,MOE-Shanghai Key Laboratory of Children's Environmental Health, Xinhua Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Qi Zhu
- Department of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, Shanghai Children's Medical Center, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.,Pediatric Translational Medicine Institute, Shanghai Children's Medical Center, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.,MOE-Shanghai Key Laboratory of Children's Environmental Health, Xinhua Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yanrui Jiang
- Department of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, Shanghai Children's Medical Center, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.,Pediatric Translational Medicine Institute, Shanghai Children's Medical Center, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.,MOE-Shanghai Key Laboratory of Children's Environmental Health, Xinhua Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jin Zhao
- Department of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, Shanghai Children's Medical Center, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.,MOE-Shanghai Key Laboratory of Children's Environmental Health, Xinhua Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.,Child Health Advocacy Institute, Shanghai Children's Medical Center, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yunting Zhang
- Department of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, Shanghai Children's Medical Center, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.,MOE-Shanghai Key Laboratory of Children's Environmental Health, Xinhua Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.,Child Health Advocacy Institute, Shanghai Children's Medical Center, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Guanghai Wang
- Department of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, Shanghai Children's Medical Center, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.,Pediatric Translational Medicine Institute, Shanghai Children's Medical Center, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.,MOE-Shanghai Key Laboratory of Children's Environmental Health, Xinhua Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.,Shanghai Center for Brain Science and Brain-Inspired Technology, Shanghai, China
| | - Fan Jiang
- Department of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, Shanghai Children's Medical Center, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.,Pediatric Translational Medicine Institute, Shanghai Children's Medical Center, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.,MOE-Shanghai Key Laboratory of Children's Environmental Health, Xinhua Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.,Shanghai Center for Brain Science and Brain-Inspired Technology, Shanghai, China
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The neural basis of authenticity recognition in laughter and crying. Sci Rep 2021; 11:23750. [PMID: 34887461 PMCID: PMC8660868 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-03131-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2021] [Accepted: 11/22/2021] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Deciding whether others' emotions are genuine is essential for successful communication and social relationships. While previous fMRI studies suggested that differentiation between authentic and acted emotional expressions involves higher-order brain areas, the time course of authenticity discrimination is still unknown. To address this gap, we tested the impact of authenticity discrimination on event-related potentials (ERPs) related to emotion, motivational salience, and higher-order cognitive processing (N100, P200 and late positive complex, the LPC), using vocalised non-verbal expressions of sadness (crying) and happiness (laughter) in a 32-participant, within-subject study. Using a repeated measures 2-factor (authenticity, emotion) ANOVA, we show that N100's amplitude was larger in response to authentic than acted vocalisations, particularly in cries, while P200's was larger in response to acted vocalisations, particularly in laughs. We suggest these results point to two different mechanisms: (1) a larger N100 in response to authentic vocalisations is consistent with its link to emotional content and arousal (putatively larger amplitude for genuine emotional expressions); (2) a larger P200 in response to acted ones is in line with evidence relating it to motivational salience (putatively larger for ambiguous emotional expressions). Complementarily, a significant main effect of emotion was found on P200 and LPC amplitudes, in that the two were larger for laughs than cries, regardless of authenticity. Overall, we provide the first electroencephalographic examination of authenticity discrimination and propose that authenticity processing of others' vocalisations is initiated early, along that of their emotional content or category, attesting for its evolutionary relevance for trust and bond formation.
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47
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Peplak J, Klemfuss JZ, Yates TM. Parent-Adolescent Conversations About COVID-19 Influence Adolescents' Empathic Concern and Adherence to Health Protective Behaviors. J Adolesc Health 2021; 69:925-932. [PMID: 34688553 PMCID: PMC8515378 DOI: 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2021.08.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2021] [Revised: 07/20/2021] [Accepted: 08/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE This longitudinal investigation assessed how the frequency of parent-adolescent conversations about COVID-19, moderated by adolescents' stress, influenced adolescents' empathic concern and adherence to health protective behaviors (HPBs) throughout the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS Participants were 181 adolescents (Mage = 15.23 years; 51% girls; 47% Latinx) and their parents. Frequency of parent-adolescent conversations about COVID-19 (i.e., pandemic-related symptoms, health behaviors, and social effects), empathic concern toward vulnerable others, and adolescent HPBs were assessed via surveys in the first months of the pandemic, and empathic concern and HPBs were assessed again nine months later. RESULTS Results revealed that more frequent parent-adolescent conversations early in the pandemic predicted increased adherence to HPBs throughout the pandemic when adolescents reported low stress (direct effect), but conversation frequency predicted decreased adherence to HPBs via reduced empathic concern when adolescents reported high stress (indirect effect). CONCLUSIONS Parents and other socialization agents, such as teachers, should be sensitive to adolescents' stress before engaging them in frequent conversations about the pandemic to mitigate the potential negative impact these conversations may have on adolescents' empathic concern and adherence to HPBs. Decreasing adolescents' stress may be an initial step in promoting effective message transference. Collective action (including wearing masks and receiving the vaccine) remains critical to overcoming COVID-19. The current study contributes to our understanding of the processes underlying adolescents' adherence to recommended HPBs, which is critical as pandemic fatigue and stress continue to rise.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joanna Peplak
- Department of Psychological Science, University of California, Irvine, California.
| | - J Zoe Klemfuss
- Department of Psychological Science, University of California, Irvine, California
| | - Tuppett M Yates
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Riverside, California
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Hastings PD, Ugarte E, Mashash M, Marceau K, Natsuaki MN, Shirtcliff EA, Zahn-Waxler C, Klimes-Dougan B. The codevelopment of adolescents' and parents' anxiety and depression: Moderating influences of youth gender and psychophysiology. Depress Anxiety 2021; 38:1234-1244. [PMID: 34110070 DOI: 10.1002/da.23183] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2020] [Revised: 04/22/2021] [Accepted: 05/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
METHODS In a 2-year longitudinal study of 220 families, we examined how youth gender and adrenocortical and parasympathetic activity moderated reciprocal, bidirectional relations between parent and youth anxiety and depression problems. RESULTS Maternal anxiety predicted subsequent youth anxiety and depression. Maternal depression predicted youth anxiety and, for daughters and youth with low adrenocortical reactivity, youth depression. Youth depression predicted maternal depression only for youth with high adrenocortical reactivity. There were no associations between paternal and youth psychopathology. DISCUSSION Examining youth gender and psychophysiological characteristics that shape the nature of bidirectional influences may inform efforts to identify families at heightened risk for intergenerational transmission of psychopathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul D Hastings
- Department of Psychology, University of California Davis, Davis, California, USA
| | - Elisa Ugarte
- Department of Human Ecology, University of California Davis, Davis, California, USA
| | - Meital Mashash
- Department of Human Ecology, University of California Davis, Davis, California, USA
| | - Kristine Marceau
- Department of Human Development & Family Studies, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, USA
| | - Misaki N Natsuaki
- Department of Psychology, University of California Riverside, Riverside, California, USA
| | | | - Carolyn Zahn-Waxler
- Department of Psychology and Center for Healthy Minds, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
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Kowalski CM, Rogoza R, Saklofske DH, Schermer JA. Dark triads, tetrads, tents, and cores: Why navigate (research) the jungle of dark personality models without a compass (criterion)? Acta Psychol (Amst) 2021; 221:103455. [PMID: 34864320 DOI: 10.1016/j.actpsy.2021.103455] [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: 07/20/2021] [Revised: 11/25/2021] [Accepted: 11/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
This comprehensive review summarizes and evaluates the present state of the Dark Triad research literature (or more broadly, the dark personality trait literature), and as such serves both a pedagogical purpose, by providing an introduction or primer on the dark personality literature and a scientific purpose by directing future research on key issues that still have not been sufficiently addressed. In this review, we discuss and critique current operational conceptualizations of what it means for a personality trait to be classified as 'dark'. Also discussed is the Dark Core, as well as quantitative issues such as limitations of commonly used statistical treatments, such as multivariate analyses, bifactor modeling, and composite measures, and proposed solutions to some of these issues. Based on a comprehensive and critical appraisal of the literature, future directions are suggested to drive the dark trait field towards a more organized, parsimonious, and productive future.
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50
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Sevincok D, Avcil S, Ozbek MM. The relationship between theory of mind and sluggish cognitive tempo in school-age children with attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder. Clin Child Psychol Psychiatry 2021; 26:1137-1152. [PMID: 34237232 DOI: 10.1177/13591045211030665] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Sluggish cognitive tempo (SCT) is considered as a cognitive-emotional style. Theory of mind (ToM) skills form the basis of human cognition and social behavior. The aim of this study is to contribute to SCT literature by examining the relationship between SCT and cognitive and affective ToM in school-age children with attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Fifty school-age children with ADHD (43 boys and seven girls) and 40 typically developing children (34 boys and six girls) were assessed using Parent-rated Barkley Child Attention Scale and Child Behavior Checklist/6-18, cognitive (first- and second-order ToM) and affective ToM (Reading Mind in the Eyes Test and Unexpected Outcomes Test (UOT)) tests. Multiple linear regression analysis was performed to determine the variables that may predict SCT levels in children with ADHD. Attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder-inattention (Exp(B) = .334, p = .027), internalization (Exp(B) = .305, p = .006), and UOT scores (Exp(B) = .933, p = .015) significantly predicted SCT severity in children with ADHD. SCT severity was significantly associated with impaired cognitive ToM skills as measured by second-order ToM (Exp(B) = 1.933, p = .045). Our findings may indicate that affective ToM developing with age, and impaired cognitive ToM skills are associated with increasing SCT severity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Doga Sevincok
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Agri Training and Research Hospital, Agri, Turkey
| | - Sibelnur Avcil
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 64036Aydin Adnan Menderes University, Aydin, Turkey
| | - Mutlu M Ozbek
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Kars 4264Harakani State Hospital, Kars, Turkey
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