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Bulgarelli C, Pinti P, Aburumman N, Jones EJH. Combining wearable fNIRS and immersive virtual reality to study preschoolers' social development: a proof-of-principle study on preschoolers' social preference. OXFORD OPEN NEUROSCIENCE 2023; 2:kvad012. [PMID: 38596237 PMCID: PMC10913823 DOI: 10.1093/oons/kvad012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2023] [Revised: 11/27/2023] [Accepted: 11/30/2023] [Indexed: 04/11/2024]
Abstract
A child's social world is complex and rich, but has traditionally been assessed with conventional experiments where children are presented with repeated stimuli on a screen. These assessments are impoverished relative to the dynamics of social interactions in real life, and can be challenging to implement with preschoolers, who struggle to comply with strict lab rules. The current work meets the need to develop new platforms to assess preschoolers' social development, by presenting a unique virtual-reality set-up combined with wearable functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS). As a proof-of-principle, we validated this platform by measuring brain activity during self-guided social interaction in 3-to-5-year-olds, which is under-investigated, yet crucial to understand the basis of social interactions in preschoolers. 37 preschoolers chose an interaction partner from one of 4 human-like avatars of different gender and age. We recorded spontaneous brain fluctuations from the frontal and temporoparietal regions (notably engaged in social-categorization and preference) while children played a bubble-popping game with a preferred and an assigned avatar. 60% of the participants chose to play with the same-gender and same-age avatar. However, this result was driven by females (>80% vs. 50% in males). Different fronto-temporoparietal connectivity patterns when playing with the two avatars were observed, especially in females. We showed the feasibility of using a novel set-up to naturalistically assess social preference in preschoolers, which was assessed at the behavioural and functional connectivity level. This work provides a first proof-of-principle for using cutting-edge technologies and naturalistic experiments to study social development, opening new avenues of research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiara Bulgarelli
- Centre for Brain and Cognitive Development, Birkbeck, University of London, Malet St, London, WC1E 7HX, UK
- Department of Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, University College London, Gower Street, London, WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - Paola Pinti
- Centre for Brain and Cognitive Development, Birkbeck, University of London, Malet St, London, WC1E 7HX, UK
- Department of Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, University College London, Gower Street, London, WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - Nadine Aburumman
- Department of Computer Science, St John's Building, Brunel University London, Uxbridge, Middlesex, UB8 3PH, UK
| | - Emily J H Jones
- Centre for Brain and Cognitive Development, Birkbeck, University of London, Malet St, London, WC1E 7HX, UK
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Mondal H, Soni S, Sahoo MR, Mondal S, Saha K, Maharana B, Priyadarshini B, Behera JK. Perceived leadership quality and empathy among Indian undergraduate medical students. JOURNAL OF EDUCATION AND HEALTH PROMOTION 2023; 12:321. [PMID: 38023074 PMCID: PMC10670958 DOI: 10.4103/jehp.jehp_1670_22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2022] [Accepted: 04/10/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Efficient leaders from the medical fraternity may understand healthcare in depth. Empathy is important for patient care, job satisfaction, and the psychological well-being of doctors. Empathic leadership is concerned with an interest in the people around them. This study aimed to observe the perceived leadership quality and empathy among Indian medical undergraduate students, find any correlation between them, and assess age, sex, and semester of study as predictor variables for leadership and empathy. MATERIALS AND METHODS An online cross-sectional survey was conducted on Google Forms with undergraduate medical students in India with a convenient snowball sample. The Abbreviated Self Leadership Quality (ASQL) was used to find the leadership quality and the eight-item Empathy Quotient (EQ-8) to find the empathy. Spearman's correlation coefficient was calculated between ASQL and EQ-8 score. Age, sex, and semester were used as predictor variables in regression analysis with leadership and empathy as dependent variables. RESULT A total of 439 (50.8% male, 49.2% female) Indian undergraduate students participated in the study. Males showed higher leadership qualities. There was no gender difference in empathy. Leadership was positively correlated (rs =0.13, P = .006) with empathy in the overall sample. The age (P = .001), sex (P < .0001), and semester of study (P < .0001) successfully predicts leadership (F = 57.167, P < .0001). Although age, sex, and semester combined successfully predict empathy (F = 5.31, P = .001), individually, only a semester of study (P = .009) significantly contributes to the prediction. CONCLUSION Male and female medical students show a similar level of empathy but male shows higher leadership quality. Leadership and empathy are positively correlated; hence, students with higher leadership quality would show higher empathy and vice versa. The age, sex, and semester of study are determinants of leadership whereas semester of study is the determinant of empathy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Himel Mondal
- Department of Physiology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Deoghar, Jharkhand, India
| | - Sachin Soni
- Department of Anatomy, AIIMS Bilaspur, Himachal Pradesh, India
| | - Manas Ranjan Sahoo
- Department of Psychiatry, Fakir Mohan Medical College and Hospital, Balasore, Odisha, India
| | - Shaikat Mondal
- Department of Physiology, Raiganj Government Medical College and Hospital, West Bengal, India
| | - Koushik Saha
- Department of Anatomy, Rampurhat Government Medical College and Hospital, West Bengal, India
| | - Biswajit Maharana
- MBBS Student, Fakir Mohan Medical College and Hospital, Balasore, Odisha, India
| | | | - Joshil Kumar Behera
- Department of Physiology, Dharanidhar Medical College and Hospital, Keonjhar, Odisha, India
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Mieres-Chacaltana M, Salvo-Garrido S, Dominguez-Lara S, Gálvez-Nieto JL, Alarcón-Bañares P. Psychometric Validation of the Adult Prosocialness Behavior Scale in a Professional Teaching Context. Behav Sci (Basel) 2023; 13:761. [PMID: 37754039 PMCID: PMC10525657 DOI: 10.3390/bs13090761] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2023] [Revised: 09/10/2023] [Accepted: 09/11/2023] [Indexed: 09/28/2023] Open
Abstract
For the teaching profession, prosociality is a relevant skill. From this perspective, the present study aimed to examine the psychometric properties of the Adult Prosocialness Behavior Scale (APBS) in a professional setting of primary school Chilean teachers (n = 1404; mean age = 41.4; SD = 10.8; 77.4% women). ESEM and CFA were applied to evaluate its factor structure, internal consistency, factorial reliability, and invariance. The results supported a bifactor ESEM model in which prosociality was represented by a general latent factor and four specific factors (helping, sharing, caring, and empathy). A predominance of the unidimensional component of the APBS was observed (general factor, ECV = 0.938; ωh = 0.945), with adequate reliability (α = 0.932; ω of the factor general = 0.968) and invariance of the measurement in terms of gender. Its adequacy was confirmed by a good level of fit (RMSEA = 0.042 90%CI [0.036-0.049]; SRMR = 0.012; CFI = 0.995; TLI = 0.988). It is concluded that the APBS is a suitable instrument to measure prosociality in the professional setting studied. Its general and specific dimensions are relevant to the prosocial behaviors currently required of teachers. Future studies could contribute evidence of the transcultural validation of the APBS in other educational contexts in order to undertake comparative studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manuel Mieres-Chacaltana
- Departamento de Diversidad y Educación Intercultural, Universidad Católica de Temuco, Temuco 4780000, Chile;
| | - Sonia Salvo-Garrido
- Departamento de Matemática y Estadística, Universidad de La Frontera, Temuco 4780000, Chile
| | - Sergio Dominguez-Lara
- South American Center for Education and Research in Public Health, Universidad Privada Norbert Wiener, Lima 15108, Peru;
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Scarlett H, Moirangthem S, van der Waerden J. The impact of paternal mental illness on child development: an umbrella review of systematic reviews and meta-analyses. Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry 2023:10.1007/s00787-023-02261-1. [PMID: 37540476 DOI: 10.1007/s00787-023-02261-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2022] [Accepted: 07/07/2023] [Indexed: 08/05/2023]
Abstract
Whilst there is growing evidence highlighting the importance of paternal mental illness (PMI) on child development, this relationship still remains under-studied and often over-looked. Considering the increasingly active role of fathers in their children's upbringing, a comprehensive overview of the impact of PMI on child development is overdue. This study aimed to combine and synthesise currently available evidence on the relationship between PMI and multiple domains of child development. Narrative synthesis of systematic reviews and meta-analyses on the relationship between PMI and child development (mental health and social, emotional, language, cognitive or adaptive behaviour), published between 1980 to December 2021, was conducted in line with PRISMA 2020 guidelines. Review quality was assessed based on AMSTAR-2 criteria and respective study confidence was interpreted in line with GRADE scoring. All relevant meta-analytic effect sizes were converted to odds ratios (OR) and grouped using a random effects model. Grouped meta-analyses saw PMI to have a significant, detrimental effect on all studied domains of child development [OR: 1.54; 95% CI (1.36-1.74)]. Subgroup analyses saw PMI affecting both internalising [OR: 1.62; 95% CI (1.27-2.08)] and externalising [OR: 1.63; 95% CI (1.28-2.08)] child behaviours to a similar extent. However, included reviews were of poor methodological quality, demonstrating either low or critically low confidence. These results show a consistent and influential effect of PMI on child development. The relationship between fathers' mental illness and child development warrants further investigation, as current research is limited in scope, particularly regarding cognitive domains of child development and non-affective PMI diagnoses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Honor Scarlett
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, Institut Pierre Louis d'Epidémiologie Et de Santé Publique, 75012, Paris, France.
| | - Simi Moirangthem
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, Institut Pierre Louis d'Epidémiologie Et de Santé Publique, 75012, Paris, France
| | - Judith van der Waerden
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, Institut Pierre Louis d'Epidémiologie Et de Santé Publique, 75012, Paris, France
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Samavi A, Hajializadeh K, Javdan M, Farshad MR. Psychometric validation of teacher empathy scale: Measurement invariance in gender. Front Psychol 2022; 13:1042993. [PMID: 36507024 PMCID: PMC9733426 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.1042993] [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: 09/13/2022] [Accepted: 10/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Result from Wang et al. study described the development and validation of an empathy scale for teachers (EST) and suggested that the EST could be an effective tool to assess the empathy of primary, middle and high school teachers in relation to their students. This study examines the factorial structure and factorial invariance of the EST in an Iranian sample. Confirmatory factor analysis was conducted to explore dimensionality and test for measurement invariance in factor structure, factor loadings and intercepts across gender in a sample (N = 462), of Iranian high-school male and female teachers (24-55 years). The data supported the multidimensional structure in both male and female samples. Accordingly, all factor loadings were significant and scale structure confirmed like the original scale. The results indicated that the EST includes three dimensions: cognitive empathy, negative affective empathy and positive affective empathy, and the internal consistency reliability of the three subscales are satisfactory in total sample and both sexes. Furthermore, the results revealed that invariance of the measure according to gender was confirmed. In addition, as the validity evidence, the EST is positively correlated with empathic concern scale scores. The study suggests that the EST could be an effective tool to measure the empathy of high school teachers in relation to their students in Iranian sample.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abdolvahab Samavi
- Department of Educational Sciences, University of Hormozgan, Bandar Abbas, Iran,*Correspondence: Abdolvahab Samavi,
| | - Kobra Hajializadeh
- Department of Psychology, Islamic Azad University, Bandar Abbas, Bandar Abbas, Iran
| | - Moosa Javdan
- Department of Counseling, University of Hormozgan, Bandar Abbas, Iran
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Singleton G, Johnson L, Singleton N, Li H. COVID-19-related anxiety: How do coping and optimism relate to substance use in African-American young adults? JOURNAL OF COMMUNITY PSYCHOLOGY 2022:10.1002/jcop.22863. [PMID: 35441710 PMCID: PMC9088271 DOI: 10.1002/jcop.22863] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2021] [Revised: 03/14/2022] [Accepted: 04/04/2022] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has greatly affected college students nationwide. Recent research suggests that the COVID-19 pandemic has disproportionately impacted African-American young adults. The infection case rates, hospitalizations, and death rates in African-American populations are 2-5 times higher than among White populations. The intergenerational trauma and systemic racism that African-Americans have faced in past and present times have fomented conditions that lead to vulnerability within this historically resilient community. These stresses and losses increase the risks of anxiety and substance use. This study examined the relationship between COVID-19-related anxiety and substance use, and how adaptive coping and optimism influence this relationship in African-Americans young adults. Results reveal that COVID-related anxiety predicts alcohol and drug use. Optimism and adaptive coping are related to lower pandemic-related anxiety, alcohol, and drug use among African-American young adults.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Leona Johnson
- Department of PsychologyFlorida A&M UniversityTallahasseeFloridaUSA
| | - Nkosi Singleton
- Department of PsychologyFlorida A&M UniversityTallahasseeFloridaUSA
| | - Huijun Li
- Department of PsychologyFlorida A&M UniversityTallahasseeFloridaUSA
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Rochat MJ. Sex and gender differences in the development of empathy. J Neurosci Res 2022; 101:718-729. [PMID: 35043464 DOI: 10.1002/jnr.25009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2020] [Revised: 12/22/2021] [Accepted: 12/28/2021] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
The topic of typical sex and gender difference in empathy is examined in both a developmental and neuroscientific perspective. Empathy is construed as a multi-layered phenomenon with various degrees of complexity unfolding in ontogeny. The different components of empathy (i.e., affective, cognitive, and prosocial motivation) will be discussed as they interact and are expressed behaviorally. Significant sex/gender differences in empathy are discussed in relation to putative bottom-up or top-down processes underlying empathetic responses. The early onset and the pervasive presence of such sex/gender differences throughout the lifespan are further discussed in light of social and neurobiological modeling factors, including early socialization, brain's structural/functional variances, as well as genetics and hormonal factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Magali Jane Rochat
- Functional and Molecular Neuroimaging Unit, IRCCS Istituto delle Scienze Neurologiche di Bologna, Bologna, Italy
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Diotaiuti P, Valente G, Mancone S, Grambone A, Chirico A. Metric Goodness and Measurement Invariance of the Italian Brief Version of Interpersonal Reactivity Index: A Study With Young Adults. Front Psychol 2022; 12:773363. [PMID: 34987448 PMCID: PMC8721117 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.773363] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2021] [Accepted: 11/26/2021] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
The Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI) is a widely used multidimensional measure to assess empathy across four main dimensions: perspective taking (PT) empathic concern (EC) personal distress (PD) fantasy (F). This study aimed to replicate the Italian validation process of the shortened IRI (Interpersonal Reactivity Index) scale in order to confirm its psychometric properties with a sample of young adults. The Gender Measurement Invariance of empathy in this age group was also an objective of the work in order to increase the data on this aspect. A total of 683 Italian university students participated in a non-probabilistic sampling. The 16-item version was confirmed in its four-factor structure but with changes to some items. The model showed good fits with both the CFA and the gender Measurement Invariance. The internal consistency measures were found to be fully satisfactory. Convergent validity was tested by the correlations with the Prosocialness Scale for Adults and The Toronto Alexithymia Scale-20. As hypothesized the measure proved good convergent validity with Prosocialness, i.e., the willingness to assist, help, share, care and empathy with others, and a relevant inverse association with the External Oriented Thinking, characterizing individuals with emotionally poor thinking. This research provided additional evidence for a link between alexithymia and poor empathic abilities in young adults.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pierluigi Diotaiuti
- Department of Human Sciences, Society and Health, University of Cassino, Cassino, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Valente
- Department of Human Sciences, Society and Health, University of Cassino, Cassino, Italy
| | - Stefania Mancone
- Department of Human Sciences, Society and Health, University of Cassino, Cassino, Italy
| | - Angela Grambone
- Department of Human Sciences, Society and Health, University of Cassino, Cassino, Italy
| | - Andrea Chirico
- Department of Psychology of Development and Socialization Processes, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
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