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Aldunate N, López-Silva P, Brotfeld C, Guerra E, Kronmüller E. Spanish version of Multidimensional Mentalizing Questionnaire (MMQ): Translation, adaptation and psychometric properties in a Chilean population. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0296691. [PMID: 38498499 PMCID: PMC10947660 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0296691] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2023] [Accepted: 12/15/2023] [Indexed: 03/20/2024] Open
Abstract
This paper presents the first translation and adaptation of the Multidimensional Mentalizing Questionnaire (MMQ) into Spanish for a native Spanish-speaking sample in Chile. The study examines the psychometric properties and internal consistency of the translated MMQ. The instrument undergoes modifications based on a confirmatory factor analysis of the original structure, resulting in the elimination of items with cross-loadings and improvement in model fit. The modified scale is then analyzed, demonstrating strong psychometric properties. Convergent evidence is assessed by correlating MMQ subscales with the Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI) and Empathy Quotient (EQ), while divergent evidence is assessed by correlating aggressive traits using the Buss-Perry Aggression Questionnaire (BPAQ). The study also explores gender differences and age. Results reveal positive correlations between good mentalizing and empathy, particularly cognitive empathy, supporting the significance of positive mentalization in empathy. Negative mentalization is associated with difficulties in perspective-taking and social skills, as well as aggressive traits. Gender differences in mentalizing capacities are observed, and negative aspects of mentalization decrease with age. The availability of the Spanish translation of the MMQ, the first self-reporting scale measuring mentalization adapted to Chilean population, contributes to research aiming to understand its relationship with other psychological phenomena in different cultural context and facilitating clinical interventions with different population groups. We therefore encourage further investigation into cultural, gender and age differences in mentalization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nerea Aldunate
- Laboratorio de Comportamiento Animal y Humano, Centro de Investigación en Complejidad Social, Facultad de Gobierno, Universidad del Desarrollo, Santiago, Chile
| | - Pablo López-Silva
- Escuela de Psicología, Universidad de Valparaíso, Valparaíso, Chile
- Instituto de Sistemas Complejos de Valparaíso, Valparaíso, Chile
| | | | - Ernesto Guerra
- Centro de Investigación Avanzada en Educación, Instituto de Educación, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Edmundo Kronmüller
- Escuela de Psicología, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
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2
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Grassini S, Koivisto M. Understanding how personality traits, experiences, and attitudes shape negative bias toward AI-generated artworks. Sci Rep 2024; 14:4113. [PMID: 38374175 PMCID: PMC10876601 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-54294-4] [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: 07/18/2023] [Accepted: 02/10/2024] [Indexed: 02/21/2024] Open
Abstract
The study primarily aimed to understand whether individual factors could predict how people perceive and evaluate artworks that are perceived to be produced by AI. Additionally, the study attempted to investigate and confirm the existence of a negative bias toward AI-generated artworks and to reveal possible individual factors predicting such negative bias. A total of 201 participants completed a survey, rating images on liking, perceived positive emotion, and believed human or AI origin. The findings of the study showed that some individual characteristics as creative personal identity and openness to experience personality influence how people perceive the presented artworks in function of their believed source. Participants were unable to consistently distinguish between human and AI-created images. Furthermore, despite generally preferring the AI-generated artworks over human-made ones, the participants displayed a negative bias against AI-generated artworks when subjective perception of source attribution was considered, thus rating as less preferable the artworks perceived more as AI-generated, independently on their true source. Our findings hold potential value for comprehending the acceptability of products generated by AI technology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simone Grassini
- Department of Psychosocial Science, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway.
- Cognitive and Behavioral Neuroscience Laboratory, University of Stavanger, Stavanger, Norway.
| | - Mika Koivisto
- Department of Psychology, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
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3
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Li X, Peng C, Qin F, Luo Q, Ren Z, Wang X, Feng Q, Liu C, Li Y, Wei D, Qiu J. Basolateral Amygdala Functional Connectivity in Alexithymia: Linking Interoceptive Sensibility and Cognitive Empathy. Neuroscience 2024; 539:12-20. [PMID: 38176608 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2023.12.014] [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: 09/02/2023] [Revised: 12/05/2023] [Accepted: 12/26/2023] [Indexed: 01/06/2024]
Abstract
Emotions rely on bodily states, and perceiving the emotions of others depends on awareness of one's own emotional state. However, the intercorrelations among interoception, alexithymia, and empathy are not well understood, and the neural mechanisms behind this connection are also largely unknown. To address these issues, 297 college students participated in this study, completing measures of interoceptive sensibility (IS), empathy and alexithymia and undergoing resting-state fMRI scans. The functional connectivity of the amygdala was analysed to identify the neural substrates of alexithymia, and mediation analyses were conducted to examine the mediation effect of alexithymia and alexithymia-specific amygdala functional connectivity on the relationship between IS and empathy. The results showed that higher levels of IS were associated with increased cognitive empathy through weakened alexithymia. Functional connectivity analysis indicated that right basolateral amygdala (BLA)-left precuneus connectivity was negatively related to alexithymia, while right BLA-left precentral gyrus connectivity was positively related to alexithymia. Furthermore, right BLA-left precuneus connectivity was found to mediate the impact of interoception on cognitive empathy. In conclusion, this study provides valuable insights into the relationships among IS, alexithymia, and empathy. The right BLA-left precuneus connectivity may serve as a shared neural substrate between interoception and cognitive empathy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xianrui Li
- Key Laboratory of Cognition and Personality (SWU), Ministry of Education, Chongqing 400715, China; Faculty of Psychology, Southwest University (SWU), Chongqing 400715, China
| | - Chuyao Peng
- Key Laboratory of Cognition and Personality (SWU), Ministry of Education, Chongqing 400715, China; Faculty of Psychology, Southwest University (SWU), Chongqing 400715, China
| | - Facai Qin
- Key Laboratory of Cognition and Personality (SWU), Ministry of Education, Chongqing 400715, China; Faculty of Psychology, Southwest University (SWU), Chongqing 400715, China
| | - Qian Luo
- Key Laboratory of Cognition and Personality (SWU), Ministry of Education, Chongqing 400715, China; Faculty of Psychology, Southwest University (SWU), Chongqing 400715, China
| | - Zhiting Ren
- Key Laboratory of Cognition and Personality (SWU), Ministry of Education, Chongqing 400715, China; Faculty of Psychology, Southwest University (SWU), Chongqing 400715, China
| | - Xueyang Wang
- Key Laboratory of Cognition and Personality (SWU), Ministry of Education, Chongqing 400715, China; Faculty of Psychology, Southwest University (SWU), Chongqing 400715, China
| | - Qiuyang Feng
- Key Laboratory of Cognition and Personality (SWU), Ministry of Education, Chongqing 400715, China; Faculty of Psychology, Southwest University (SWU), Chongqing 400715, China
| | - Cheng Liu
- Key Laboratory of Cognition and Personality (SWU), Ministry of Education, Chongqing 400715, China; Faculty of Psychology, Southwest University (SWU), Chongqing 400715, China
| | - Yang Li
- School of Psychology and Cognitive Science, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200062, China
| | - Dongtao Wei
- Key Laboratory of Cognition and Personality (SWU), Ministry of Education, Chongqing 400715, China; Faculty of Psychology, Southwest University (SWU), Chongqing 400715, China.
| | - Jiang Qiu
- Key Laboratory of Cognition and Personality (SWU), Ministry of Education, Chongqing 400715, China; Faculty of Psychology, Southwest University (SWU), Chongqing 400715, China; Southwest University Branch, Collaborative Innovation Center of Assessment, Toward Basic Education Quality at Beijing Normal University, China.
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4
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Ye Q, Liu Y, Zhang S, Ni K, Fu S, Dou W, Wei W, Li BM, Preece DA, Cai XL. Cross-cultural adaptation and clinical application of the Perth Empathy Scale. J Clin Psychol 2024. [PMID: 38236207 DOI: 10.1002/jclp.23643] [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: 07/24/2023] [Revised: 11/18/2023] [Accepted: 12/27/2023] [Indexed: 01/19/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Alterations of empathy have been observed in patients with various mental disorders. The Perth Empathy Scale (PES) was recently developed to measure a multidimensional construct of empathy across positive and negative emotions. However, its psychometric properties and clinical applications have not been examined in the Chinese context. METHODS The Chinese version of the PES was developed and administered to a large Chinese sample (n = 1090). Factor structure, internal consistency, test-retest reliability, and convergent, discriminant, as well as concurrent validity were examined. Moreover, 50 patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) and 50 healthy controls were recruited to explore the clinical utility of the PES. RESULTS Confirmatory factor analyses supported a theoretically congruent three-factor structure of empathy, namely Cognitive Empathy, Negative Affective Empathy and Positive Affective Empathy. The PES showed good to excellent internal consistency reliability, good convergent and discriminant validity, acceptable concurrent validity, and moderate to high test-retest reliability. Patients with MDD had significantly lower PES scores compared to healthy controls. Linear discriminant function comprised of the three factors correctly differentiated 71% of participants, which further verified the clinical utility of the PES. CONCLUSIONS Our findings indicated that the Chinese version of the PES is a reliable and valid instrument to measure cognitive and affective empathy across negative and positive emotions, and could therefore be used in both research and clinical practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qingying Ye
- Institute of Brain Science and Department of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yang Liu
- Institute of Brain Science and Department of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Siyu Zhang
- Department of Psychology, Jing Hengyi School of Education, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Ke Ni
- Qiqihar Mental Health Center, Qiqihar, China
| | - Sufen Fu
- Department of Psychology, Jing Hengyi School of Education, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Wenjie Dou
- Institute of Brain Science and Department of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Wei Wei
- Department of Neurobiology, Affiliated Mental Health Center & Hangzhou Seventh People's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
- Liangzhu Laboratory, MOE Frontier Science Center for Brain Science and Brain-machine Integration, State Key Laboratory of Brain-machine Intelligence, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
- NHC and CAMS Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Bao-Ming Li
- Institute of Brain Science and Department of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, China
- Zhejiang Philosophy and Social Science Laboratory for Research in Early Development and Childcare, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, China
| | - David A Preece
- School of Population Health and Curtin enAble Institute, Curtin University, Perth, Australia
- School of Psychological Science, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia
| | - Xin-Lu Cai
- Institute of Brain Science and Department of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, China
- Zhejiang Philosophy and Social Science Laboratory for Research in Early Development and Childcare, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, China
- Zhejiang Key Laboratory for Research in Assessment of Cognitive Impairments, Hangzhou, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Mental Health and Psychological Crisis Intervention, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
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Chien YL, Wu PY, Wu JH, Huang WL, Hsiao CC, Hsieh YT, Cheng T, Gau SSF, Chen WL. Corneal structural alterations in autism spectrum disorder: An in vivo confocal microscopy study. Autism Res 2023; 16:2316-2325. [PMID: 38050765 DOI: 10.1002/aur.3050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2023] [Accepted: 10/19/2023] [Indexed: 12/06/2023]
Abstract
Individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) often exhibit joint hypermobility and connective tissue disorders. However, it remains unclear if ASD individuals also have structural alterations in the connective tissue of the cornea. This study aims to determine whether the Kobayashi structure (K-structure) characteristics differ between adults with ASD and typically developing controls (TDC) and explore the clinical correlates of the K-structure abnormality. We recruited 30 ASD adults and 35 TDC. Corneal structures, particularly the K-structure in the Bowman's layer, of the participants were examined using in vivo confocal microscopy (IVCM), and a K-grading ranging from 1 to 4 was given to each eye based on the level of morphological mosaicism. The ASD participants' eyes received a significantly higher single-eye K-grading than that of the TDC eyes (p < 0.001), and the medians [25th, 75th percentile] of bilateral-eye summed K-grading were 8 [7, 8] and 5 [4, 6] in ASD and TDC, respectively (p < 0.001). A significantly higher K-grading in the ASD participants' eyes was still observed after adjusting for the within-subject inter-eye correlation (p < 0.001). Youden Index showed the optimal cutoffs to differentiate ASD from TDC by bilateral-eye summed K-grading and single-eye K-grading was >6 and >3, respectively. Additionally, a higher K-grading was associated with fewer visual sensation seeking in ASD (Spearman's correlation coefficient ρ = -0.518, p = 0.008) and low visual registration (i.e., higher sensory threshold) in TDC (ρ = 0.446, p = 0.023). This study provided novel evidence of corneal structural alterations in ASD by IVCM. Our findings may not only support the prior hypothesis of the association between ASD and connective tissue abnormalities but also shed light on the relationship between connective tissue disorder and neurodevelopmental disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi-Ling Chien
- Department of Psychiatry, National Taiwan University Hospital and College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Po-Ying Wu
- Department of General Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Jo-Hsuan Wu
- Shiley Eye Institute and Viterbi Family Department of Ophthalmology, University of California, San Diego, California, USA
| | - Wei-Lun Huang
- Department of Ophthalmology, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Chia-Chieh Hsiao
- Department of Ophthalmology, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Yi-Ting Hsieh
- Department of Ophthalmology, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Ting Cheng
- Department of Ophthalmology, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Susan Shur-Fen Gau
- Department of Psychiatry, National Taiwan University Hospital and College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan
- Graduate Institute of Brain and Mind Sciences, and Graduate Institute of Clinical Medicine, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Wei-Li Chen
- Department of Ophthalmology, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
- Advanced Ocular Surface and Corneal Nerve Regeneration Center, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
- Department of Ophthalmology, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
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6
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Cheng N, Ruan X, Wu Z, Yue X, Wang Z. The effect of maternal empathy on infants' attachment security: Moderation by maternal emotion regulation and infant temperament. Psych J 2023. [PMID: 36750399 DOI: 10.1002/pchj.631] [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: 03/01/2022] [Accepted: 12/13/2022] [Indexed: 02/09/2023]
Abstract
This study examined the relationship between maternal empathy and infants' attachment security and tested the moderating effects of maternal emotion regulation and infant negative emotional temperament. Participants were sampled from 215 families whose infants were 6 months old (T1) and from 170 families of the same cohort whose infants were 14 months old (T2). At T1, mothers were measured for their empathy (empathic concern and perspective taking), emotion regulation (reappraisal and suppression), and infant negative emotional temperament (sadness, falling reactivity, fear, and distress to limitations). At T2, mothers were again measured for their emotion regulation, and infant attachment was measured using the Strange Situation Procedure. Maternal empathic concern (EC) and perspective taking (PT) were found to be positively related to infant attachment security, while maternal reappraisal and infant temperamental sadness moderated the relationship between maternal PT and infant attachment security. No significant moderation effects were found between maternal EC and infant attachment security. Simple slope results showed that for infants with higher maternal reappraisal or infant sadness, maternal PT could positively predict infant attachment security. These findings highlight the importance of how the individual characteristics of mothers and infants may interact with maternal empathy during the critical period of infant attachment formation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nanhua Cheng
- School of Psychology, Capital Normal University, Beijing, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Learning and Cognition, Research Center for Child Development, Capital Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Xingjian Ruan
- School of Psychology, Capital Normal University, Beijing, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Learning and Cognition, Research Center for Child Development, Capital Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Zhijun Wu
- School of Psychology, Capital Normal University, Beijing, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Learning and Cognition, Research Center for Child Development, Capital Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaodong Yue
- School of Psychology, Capital Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Zhengyan Wang
- School of Psychology, Capital Normal University, Beijing, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Learning and Cognition, Research Center for Child Development, Capital Normal University, Beijing, China
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7
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Zhao Q, Zhou L, Ren Q, Lu X, Sun X, Neumann DL, Dai Q, Hu L. Culture-sex interaction in self-report empathy: The theory and meta-analyses. Psych J 2023; 12:5-16. [PMID: 36104300 DOI: 10.1002/pchj.598] [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: 03/27/2022] [Accepted: 08/08/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Empathy is sharing and understanding others' emotions. Recently, researchers identified larger Western-Asian cultural differences in self-report empathy with females relative to males (i.e., the culture-sex interaction theory). Neglecting this phenomenon, previous researchers focused on identifying the cultural impact on empathy per se and reported divergent results. This meta-analysis aims to reveal the heterogeneity of the earlier publications and decode the heterogeneity as per the culture-sex interaction. The current results suggested the following: First, the cultural impact on empathy increased along with three sex stratification categories (male-only, mixed-sex, and female-only, in that order). Second, the effect size statistically differed between the binary classifications of sex (female-only > male-only). Third, the mixed-sex samples' effect size was positively regressed on the samples' sex ratio (i.e., percentage of females). The current results revealed the heterogeneity of previous publications and highlighted the significance of the culture-sex interaction effect on empathy for future investigations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qing Zhao
- CAS Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Institute of Psychology, Beijing, China.,Department of Psychology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Lili Zhou
- CAS Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Institute of Psychology, Beijing, China.,Department of Psychology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.,School of Psychology, Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai, China
| | - Qiaoyue Ren
- CAS Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Institute of Psychology, Beijing, China.,Department of Psychology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Xuejing Lu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Institute of Psychology, Beijing, China.,Department of Psychology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaoxiao Sun
- Department of Psychology, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - David L Neumann
- School of Applied Psychology, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Australia
| | - Qin Dai
- Department of Psychology, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Li Hu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Institute of Psychology, Beijing, China.,Department of Psychology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
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8
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Ge Y, Ashwin C, Li F, Cao W, Zhang Y, Zhao X, Sun B, Li W. The validation of a Mandarin version of the Empathy Components Questionnaire (ECQ-Chinese) in Chinese samples. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0275903. [PMID: 36701341 PMCID: PMC9879452 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0275903] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2022] [Accepted: 09/25/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Empathy involves both empathic ability and empathic motivation. An important topic has been how to measure empathic ability and motivation simultaneously in both clinical and non-clinical samples and across different cultures. The Empathy Components Questionnaire (ECQ) is a self-report questionnaire that measures empathic ability and motivation in a questionnaire. The current study aimed to validate the Mandarin Chinese version of the ECQ (ECQ-Chinese) in three Chinese samples. In study 1, a total of 538 Chinese participants (Sample 1) completed the ECQ-Chinese via an online survey, and existing measures of empathy and related constructs which were used for criterion validity. In study 2, a total of 104 participants (Sample 2) were recruited again from sample 1 and completed the ECQ-Chinese three weeks later to investigate test-retest reliability. In study 3, a further 324 participants (Sample 3) completed the ECQ-Chinese for confirmatory factor analysis. The results showed that the ECQ-Chinese has a good internal consistency reliability, split-half reliability, and criterion validity (Study 1), and a good test-retest reliability (Study 2). Further, Study 3 found that a 22-item ECQ-Chinese consisting of five subscales had a good construct validity, convergence validity and discriminate validity, demonstrating it to be a suitable tool for the measurement of empathic ability and motivation in Chinese samples and to carry out cross-cultural studies of empathy and its components.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yabo Ge
- Department of Psychology, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua, China
- Institute of Child Development, Jinhua Polytechnic, Jinhua, China
| | - Chris Ashwin
- Centre for Applied Autism Research, Department of Psychology, University of Bath, Bath, United Kingdom
| | - Fengying Li
- Department of Psychology, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua, China
| | - Wei Cao
- Publicity Department, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua, China
| | - Yu Zhang
- College of Mathematics and Computer Science, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua, China
| | - Xuan Zhao
- Department of Psychology, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua, China
| | - Binghai Sun
- Department of Psychology, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua, China
- * E-mail: (BS); (WL)
| | - Weijian Li
- Department of Psychology, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua, China
- * E-mail: (BS); (WL)
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9
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Wu X, Lu X, Zhang H, Wang X, Kong Y, Hu L. The association between ballroom dance training and empathic concern: Behavioral and brain evidence. Hum Brain Mapp 2022; 44:315-326. [PMID: 35972315 PMCID: PMC9842917 DOI: 10.1002/hbm.26042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2022] [Revised: 07/11/2022] [Accepted: 07/29/2022] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Dance is unique in that it is a sport and an art simultaneously. Beyond improving sensorimotor functions, dance training could benefit high-level emotional and cognitive functions. Duo dances also confer the possibility for dancers to develop the abilities to recognize, understand, and share the thoughts and feelings of their dance partners during the long-term dance training. To test this possibility, we collected high-resolution structural and resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data from 43 expert-level ballroom dancers (a model of long-term exposure to duo dance training) and 40 age-matched and sex-matched nondancers, and measured their empathic ability using a self-report trait empathy scale. We found that ballroom dancers showed higher scores of empathic concern (EC) than controls. The EC scores were positively correlated with years with dance partners but negatively correlated with the number of dance partners for ballroom dancers. These behavioral results were supported by the structural and functional MRI data. Structurally, we observed that the gray matter volumes in the subgenual anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) and EC scores were positively correlated. Functionally, the connectivity between ACC and occipital gyrus was positively correlated with both EC scores and years with dance partners. In addition, the relationship between years with dance partners and EC scores was indirect-only mediated by the ACC-occipital gyrus functional connectivity. Therefore, our findings provided solid evidence for the close link between long-term ballroom dance training and empathy, which deepens our understanding of the neural mechanisms underlying this phenomenon.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao Wu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Behavioral ScienceInstitute of PsychologyBeijingChina,Department of PsychologyUniversity of Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina
| | - Xuejing Lu
- Department of PsychologyUniversity of Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina,CAS Key Laboratory of Mental HealthInstitute of PsychologyBeijingChina
| | - Huijuan Zhang
- Department of PsychologyUniversity of Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina,CAS Key Laboratory of Mental HealthInstitute of PsychologyBeijingChina
| | - Xiao Wang
- School of ArtBeijing Sport UniversityBeijingChina
| | - Yazhuo Kong
- CAS Key Laboratory of Behavioral ScienceInstitute of PsychologyBeijingChina,Department of PsychologyUniversity of Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina
| | - Li Hu
- Department of PsychologyUniversity of Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina,CAS Key Laboratory of Mental HealthInstitute of PsychologyBeijingChina
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10
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Qu JF, Zhou YQ, Liu JF, Hu HH, Cheng WY, Lu ZH, Shi L, Luo YS, Zhao L, Chen YK. Right Cortical Infarction and a Reduction in Putamen Volume May Be Correlated with Empathy in Patients after Subacute Ischemic Stroke—A Multimodal Magnetic Resonance Imaging Study. J Clin Med 2022; 11:jcm11154479. [PMID: 35956096 PMCID: PMC9369598 DOI: 10.3390/jcm11154479] [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: 06/08/2022] [Revised: 07/12/2022] [Accepted: 07/28/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Empathy has not been well studied in patients following ischemic stroke. We aimed to evaluate the relationships of multimodal neuroimaging parameters with the impairment of empathy in patients who had experienced subacute ischemic stroke. Patients who had experienced a first-event acute ischemic stroke were recruited, and we assessed their empathy using the Chinese version of the Empathy Quotient (EQ) 3 months after the index stroke. Multimodal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was conducted in all the participants to identify acute infarction and assess brain volumes, white matter integrity, and other preexisting abnormalities. We quantified the brain volumes of various subcortical structures, the ventricles, and cortical lobar atrophy. The microstructural integrity of the white matter was reflected in the mean fractional anisotropy (FA) and mean diffusivity (MD), and the regional mean values of FA and MD were quantified after mapping using the ICBM_DTI_81 Atlas. Twenty-three (56.1%) men and 18 (43.9%) women (mean age: 61.73 years, range: 41–77 years) were included. The median National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score at discharge was 1 (range: 0–4). On univariate analysis, the EQ was correlated with right cortical infarction (r = −0.39, p = 0.012), putamen volume (r = 0.382, p = 0.014), right putamen volume (r = 0.338, p = 0.031), and the FA value of the right sagittal stratum. EQ did not correlated with the MD value in any region of interest or pre-existing brain abnormalities. Multiple stepwise linear regression models were used to identify factors associated with EQ. After adjusting for age and the NIHSS score on admission, the frequency of right cortical infarcts negatively correlated with EQ (standardized β = −0.358, 95% confidence interval =−0.708 to −0.076, p = 0.016), and the putamen volume positively correlated with EQ (standardized β = 0.328, 95% confidence interval =0.044 to 0.676, p = 0.027). In conclusion, in patients who have experienced subacute ischemic stroke, right cortical infarction and a smaller putamen volume are associated with the impairment of empathy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jian-Feng Qu
- Department of Neurology, Dongguan People’s Hospital (Affiliated Dongguan Hospital, Southern Medical University), Dongguan 523108, China; (J.-F.Q.); (Y.-Q.Z.); (J.-F.L.); (H.-H.H.); (W.-Y.C.); (Z.-H.L.)
| | - Yue-Qiong Zhou
- Department of Neurology, Dongguan People’s Hospital (Affiliated Dongguan Hospital, Southern Medical University), Dongguan 523108, China; (J.-F.Q.); (Y.-Q.Z.); (J.-F.L.); (H.-H.H.); (W.-Y.C.); (Z.-H.L.)
- Faculty of Neurology, Graduate School of Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang 524013, China
| | - Jian-Fei Liu
- Department of Neurology, Dongguan People’s Hospital (Affiliated Dongguan Hospital, Southern Medical University), Dongguan 523108, China; (J.-F.Q.); (Y.-Q.Z.); (J.-F.L.); (H.-H.H.); (W.-Y.C.); (Z.-H.L.)
- Faculty of Neurology, Graduate School of Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510505, China
| | - Hui-Hong Hu
- Department of Neurology, Dongguan People’s Hospital (Affiliated Dongguan Hospital, Southern Medical University), Dongguan 523108, China; (J.-F.Q.); (Y.-Q.Z.); (J.-F.L.); (H.-H.H.); (W.-Y.C.); (Z.-H.L.)
| | - Wei-Yang Cheng
- Department of Neurology, Dongguan People’s Hospital (Affiliated Dongguan Hospital, Southern Medical University), Dongguan 523108, China; (J.-F.Q.); (Y.-Q.Z.); (J.-F.L.); (H.-H.H.); (W.-Y.C.); (Z.-H.L.)
| | - Zhi-Hao Lu
- Department of Neurology, Dongguan People’s Hospital (Affiliated Dongguan Hospital, Southern Medical University), Dongguan 523108, China; (J.-F.Q.); (Y.-Q.Z.); (J.-F.L.); (H.-H.H.); (W.-Y.C.); (Z.-H.L.)
| | - Lin Shi
- Department of Imaging and Interventional Radiology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong, China;
| | - Yi-Shan Luo
- BrainNow Research Institute, Shenzhen 518000, China; (Y.-S.L.); (L.Z.)
| | - Lei Zhao
- BrainNow Research Institute, Shenzhen 518000, China; (Y.-S.L.); (L.Z.)
| | - Yang-Kun Chen
- Department of Neurology, Dongguan People’s Hospital (Affiliated Dongguan Hospital, Southern Medical University), Dongguan 523108, China; (J.-F.Q.); (Y.-Q.Z.); (J.-F.L.); (H.-H.H.); (W.-Y.C.); (Z.-H.L.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +86-13713135765
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11
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Decreased Empathy Response to Other's Pain in Parents of Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder. J Nerv Ment Dis 2022; 210:468-473. [PMID: 35472086 DOI: 10.1097/nmd.0000000000001525] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
We aimed to investigate pain empathy ability and self-reported empathy among parents of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Twenty-four parents of children with ASD and 26 parents of typically developing children completed the Empathy Quotient (EQ) self-report scale and responded to painful or neutral images during an empathy-for-pain paradigm test. Parents of children with ASD had lower EQ scores, lower accuracy, and longer reaction time (RT) for pain empathy task response (all p < 0.05) compared with controls. There was a negative relationship between cognitive empathy, social skills, total EQ scores, and RT of response in parents of children with ASD. Our findings indicate that self-reported empathy deficits and decreased empathy response to the sight of others' pain in parents of children with ASD are part of a broader autistic phenotype.
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12
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Zhou N, Wang D, Chasson GS, Xu X, Wang J, Lockwood MI. Psychometric properties of the Chinese Empathy and Systemizing Quotients in a non-clinical sample. CURRENT PSYCHOLOGY 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s12144-020-00653-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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13
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Ge Y, Li W, Chen F, Kayani S, Qin G. The Theories of the Development of Students: A Factor to Shape Teacher Empathy From the Perspective of Motivation. Front Psychol 2021; 12:736656. [PMID: 34867618 PMCID: PMC8635053 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.736656] [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: 07/05/2021] [Accepted: 10/26/2021] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Empathy represents an essential prerequisite for developing effective interpersonal behavior and maintaining interpersonal relationships. Education is a result of teacher-student interaction, and, therefore, it is worth noting that teaching empathy is critical for the development of students and the professional growth of teachers. Recently, researchers began to explore the influential factors of empathy (e.g., empathic mindsets) based on motivation. Beyond their empathic attitudes, teachers also have a mindset toward the development of students. A survey study was adopted to explore the relationship between the theories of the growth of students and teacher empathy. Four hundred and eighty-four Chinese teachers completed the student development scale, the teacher empathic motivation scale, and the teacher empathy scale. The mediation model results showed that the theories of the development of students could significantly predict teacher empathy and teacher empathic motivation. The teacher empathic motivation mediated the positive relationship between the theories of the development of students and teacher empathy. This study proposes a new concept and method for teacher empathy intervention in future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yabo Ge
- Department of Psychology, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua, China.,Key Laboratory of Intelligent Education Technology and Application of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua, China.,Teachers College, Jinhua Polytechnic, Jinhua, China
| | - Weijian Li
- Department of Psychology, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua, China
| | - Fangyan Chen
- Teachers College, Jinhua Polytechnic, Jinhua, China
| | - Sumaira Kayani
- Department of Psychology, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua, China
| | - Guihua Qin
- Department of Psychology, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua, China
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14
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de Lima FF, Osório FDL. Empathy: Assessment Instruments and Psychometric Quality - A Systematic Literature Review With a Meta-Analysis of the Past Ten Years. Front Psychol 2021; 12:781346. [PMID: 34899531 PMCID: PMC8653810 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.781346] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2021] [Accepted: 10/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective: To verify the psychometric qualities and adequacy of the instruments available in the literature from 2009 to 2019 to assess empathy in the general population. Methods: The following databases were searched: PubMed, PsycInfo, Web of Science, Scielo, and LILACS using the keywords "empathy" AND "valid∗" OR "reliability" OR "psychometr∗." A qualitative synthesis was performed with the findings, and meta-analytic measures were used for reliability and convergent validity. Results: Fifty studies were assessed, which comprised 23 assessment instruments. Of these, 13 proposed new instruments, 18 investigated the psychometric properties of instruments previously developed, and 19 reported cross-cultural adaptations. The Empathy Quotient, Interpersonal Reactivity Index, and Questionnaire of Cognitive and Affective Empathy were the instruments most frequently addressed. They presented good meta-analytic indicators of internal consistency [reliability, generalization meta-analyses (Cronbach's alpha): 0.61 to 0.86], but weak evidence of validity [weak structural validity; low to moderate convergent validity (0.27 to 0.45)]. Few studies analyzed standardization, prediction, or responsiveness for the new and old instruments. The new instruments proposed few innovations, and their psychometric properties did not improve. In general, cross-cultural studies reported adequate adaptation processes and equivalent psychometric indicators, though there was a lack of studies addressing cultural invariance. Conclusion: Despite the diversity of instruments assessing empathy and the many associated psychometric studies, there remain limitations, especially in terms of validity. Thus far, we cannot yet nominate a gold-standard instrument.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Flávia de Lima Osório
- Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
- National Institute for Science and Technology (INCT-TM, CNPq), Brasília, Brazil
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15
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Zhao Q, Sun X, Xie F, Chen B, Wang L, Hu L, Dai Q. Impact of COVID-19 on psychological wellbeing. Int J Clin Health Psychol 2021; 21:100252. [PMID: 34429728 PMCID: PMC8350012 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijchp.2021.100252] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2021] [Accepted: 05/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
This cross-sectional study aims to record post-traumatic stress (PTS) and post-traumatic growth (PTG) of the general population of China during the first wave of COVID-19 spread. Method: An online survey was distributed in China during February and March 2020 to record the general population's PTS (using the Post-traumatic Stress Disorder Checklist-Civilian Version, PCL-C) and PTG (using the Post-traumatic Growth Inventory, PTGI) due to COVID-19. Confirmatory Factor Analyses (CFAs) and a Two-Part Model (TPM) of regression analysis were conducted. Results: In total, 29,118 Chinese participants completed the survey (54.20% were in their 20s, 68% were males, and 60.30% had a university education). CFA results illustrated that bifactor models described the Chinese psychometric traits of PTS and PTG over the default models. Results of TPM suggested that female, low-educated, and middle-aged individuals were more vulnerable to PTS. Remarkably, mutual and positive correlations between the PTS and the PTG, though small in statistics, were observed through regression analyses. Conclusions: The current results presented new best-fit structural models, potential predictors, and valuable baseline information on the PTS and the PTG of the Chinese population in the context of COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qing Zhao
- CAS Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.,Department of Nursing Psychology, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China.,Department of Psychology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaoxiao Sun
- Department of Nursing Psychology, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Fei Xie
- Department of Nursing Psychology, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Beijing Chen
- Department of Nursing Psychology, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Li Wang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.,Department of Psychology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Li Hu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.,Department of Psychology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Qin Dai
- Department of Nursing Psychology, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China.,Institute for Brain and Psychological Sciences, Sichuan Normal University, Chengdu, China
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16
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Zhao Q, Neumann DL, Yan C, Djekic S, Shum DHK. Culture, Sex, and Group-Bias in Trait and State Empathy. Front Psychol 2021; 12:561930. [PMID: 33995162 PMCID: PMC8113867 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.561930] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2020] [Accepted: 02/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Empathy is sharing and understanding others’ emotions. Recently, researchers identified a culture–sex interaction effect in empathy. This phenomenon has been largely ignored by previous researchers. In this study, the culture–sex interaction effect was explored with a cohort of 129 participants (61 Australian Caucasians and 68 Chinese Hans) using both self-report questionnaires (i.e., Empathy Quotient and Interpersonal Reactivity Index) and computer-based empathy tasks. In line with the previous findings, the culture–sex interaction effect was observed for both trait empathy (i.e., the generalized characteristics of empathy, as examined by the self-report questionnaires) and state empathy (i.e., the on-spot reaction of empathy for a specific stimulus, as evaluated by the computer-based tasks). Moreover, in terms of state empathy, the culture–sex interaction effect further interacted with stimulus traits (i.e., stimulus ethnicity, stimulus sex, or stimulus emotion) and resulted in three- and four-way interactions. Follow-up analyses of these higher-order interactions suggested that the phenomena of ethnic group bias and sex group favor in empathy varied among the four culture–sex participant groups (i.e., Australian female, Australian male, Chinese female, and Chinese male). The current findings highlighted the dynamic nature of empathy (i.e., its sensitivity toward both participant traits and stimulus features). Furthermore, the newly identified interaction effects in empathy deserve more investigation and need to be verified with other Western and Asian populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qing Zhao
- Department of Pain Management, The State Key Clinical Specialty in Pain Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China.,School of Applied Psychology, Griffith University, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.,Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - David L Neumann
- School of Applied Psychology, Griffith University, Gold Coast, QLD, Australia
| | - Chao Yan
- Key Laboratory of Brain Functional Genomics (MOE&STCSM), Shanghai Changning-ECNU Mental Health Center, School of Psychology and Cognitive Science, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
| | - Sandra Djekic
- School of Applied Arts, University of Art in Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - David H K Shum
- School of Applied Psychology, Griffith University, Gold Coast, QLD, Australia.,Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Kowloon, Hong Kong.,Neuropsychology and Applied Cognitive Neuroscience Laboratory, Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
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17
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Fernández AM, Baeza CG, Pavez P, Aldunate N. Chilean Version of the Empathy Quotient (EQ) Scale: Adaptation and Psychometric Properties. THE SPANISH JOURNAL OF PSYCHOLOGY 2021; 24:e24. [PMID: 33827746 DOI: 10.1017/sjp.2021.26] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
We evaluated the psychometric properties of the empathy quotient (EQ) scale translated to Spanish in Chile. We estimated its structural validity, and its construct validity with other convergent measures of empathy and attachment, as well an inversely associated construct such as aggression. We used a general sample of students and community individuals (n = 336). Participants completed the EQ, Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI), and Buss-Perry Aggression Questionnaire (BPAQ). Another exclusively community group (n = 102) completed Collins Adult Attachment scale and the EQ. CFA and ESEM analyses confirmed the structural model fit of the data to three previously reported dimensions of the EQ: cognitive empathy (CE), emotional reactivity (ER) and social skills (SS). Sex-differences in emotional reactivity, and the predicted relationships with the convergent measures were observed. The current Chilean version of the EQ resulted in an appropriate multidimensional measurement of empathy. Finally, providing a specific social skills dimension extends the traditional conception of cognitive and affective empathy to the social realm in the Chilean context.
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18
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Ren Q, Lu X, Zhao Q, Zhang H, Hu L. Can self-pain sensitivity quantify empathy for others' pain? Psychophysiology 2020; 57:e13637. [PMID: 32686117 DOI: 10.1111/psyp.13637] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2019] [Revised: 04/08/2020] [Accepted: 06/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Empathy is essential for the survival of social species. In many studies, especially those with animal models, empathy for pain was evaluated by the modulation of pain sensitivity. However, the relationship between pain sensitivity and empathy for pain is not well established. Here, by performing two experiments, we aimed to investigate their relationship at both behavioral and electrophysiological levels. In Experiment 1, we characterized individual pain sensitivity using pain threshold and tolerance in a cold pressor test, self-report empathy using Interpersonal Reactivity Index, and pain-related psychological factors, including pain-related anxiety, depression, pain catastrophizing, and pain-related fear, using well-validated questionnaires. We observed that pain sensitivity was positively correlated with emotional empathy, and their relationship was mediated by pain-related anxiety, pain catastrophizing, and pain-related fear. In Experiment 2, we quantified empathy for pain using pain intensity and unpleasantness as well as event-related potentials (ERPs) in an empathy for pain task. Positive correlations were observed between pain sensitivity and psychophysiological empathic responses (i.e., the P3 component and the late positive potential in ERPs), and their relationship was mediated by pain-related fear. These results suggested that being influenced by some pain-related psychological factors, individuals with higher pain sensitivity tended to have stronger empathy for pain, manifested as stronger emotional reactions to others' pain. Our results indicated that the conventional strategy of using pain sensitivity to quantify empathy should be treated with caution, as their relationship could be disturbed by experimental manipulations or pathological modulations that could influence individual emotional states or cognitive processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiaoyue Ren
- CAS Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Institute of Psychology, Beijing, China.,Department of Psychology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Xuejing Lu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Institute of Psychology, Beijing, China.,Department of Psychology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Qing Zhao
- Department of Pain Management, The State Key Clinical Specialty in Pain Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Huijuan Zhang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Institute of Psychology, Beijing, China.,Department of Psychology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Li Hu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Institute of Psychology, Beijing, China.,Department of Psychology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.,Department of Pain Management, The State Key Clinical Specialty in Pain Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
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19
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Zhao Q, Ren Q, Sun Y, Wan L, Hu L. Impact Factors of Empathy in Mainland Chinese Youth. Front Psychol 2020; 11:688. [PMID: 32508694 PMCID: PMC7248207 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2020.00688] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2020] [Accepted: 03/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Empathy was investigated in 592 Mainland Chinese youth using the Interpersonal Reactivity Index. Participants’ empathy-related information covering demographic traits, emotional wellness, as well as academic and social problems were recorded. Results of Classification and Regression Tree (CART) analysis showed that emotional empathy, cognitive empathy, and empathy-related personal distress was impacted by inherited traits (e.g., sex), acquired traits (e.g., study major), and a combination of both aspects, respectively. Moreover, empathy was found to be higher in youth in a vulnerable social position (i.e., outlander, female, and ethnic minority) than those in a dominant one (i.e., local, male, and ethnic majority). It was also found that personal distress, rather than empathy, was significantly correlated with academic, social, and emotional problems in the youth cohort. Hence, the current study provided an innovative observation of the relationships between empathy, personal distress, ethnicity, social vulnerability, wellness, study major, and other key characteristics in Mainland Chinese youth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qing Zhao
- Department of Pain Management, The State Key Clinical Specialty in Pain Medicine, Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Qiaoyue Ren
- CAS Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.,Department of Psychology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yuanmiao Sun
- CAS Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.,Department of Psychology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Li Wan
- Department of Pain Management, The State Key Clinical Specialty in Pain Medicine, Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Li Hu
- Department of Pain Management, The State Key Clinical Specialty in Pain Medicine, Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China.,CAS Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.,Department of Psychology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
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20
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Zhao Q, Neumann DL, Cao Y, Baron-Cohen S, Yan C, Chan RCK, Shum DHK. Culture-Sex Interaction and the Self-Report Empathy in Australians and Mainland Chinese. Front Psychol 2019; 10:396. [PMID: 30914986 PMCID: PMC6422933 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2019.00396] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2018] [Accepted: 02/08/2019] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Empathy is the ability to understand and share other people's emotions. Researchers have debated whether Westerners and Asians differ in their self-report empathy. This study aimed to replicate a previously reported culture-sex interaction in self-report empathy using Australian and Mainland Chinese participants, to investigate the cultural differences in self-report empathy in each sex group, and to verify the moderated mediating effects of three empathy-related traits (i.e., independent self-construal, interdependent self-construal, and personal distress) on the cultural differences in self-report empathy in both sex groups. In this study, scores on two self-report questionnaires of empathy, namely, the Empathy Quotient (EQ) and the Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI), were compared between 196 Australian Caucasian (101 males) and 211 Mainland Chinese (59 males) university students. Results first confirmed the significant culture-sex interaction and illustrated that the cultural differences in empathy scores were significant only for female (i.e., Australian females had higher scores than Mainland Chinese females) but not for male participants. Furthermore, results of moderated mediation analyses indicated that higher self-report empathy in both females and males was related to higher interdependent self-construal (exhibited by Mainland Chinese) and less personal distress (exhibited by Australians), and particularly in females, also related to higher independent self-construal (exhibited by Australian females). The current study is one of few studies that suggest cultural differences in empathy are dependent on the sex of the participant. Moreover, the current findings have added new insights into the explanation of cultural differences in empathy using personal distress and self-construal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qing Zhao
- School of Applied Psychology, Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - David L. Neumann
- School of Applied Psychology, Griffith University, Gold Coast, QLD, Australia
| | - Yuan Cao
- School of Psychology, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Simon Baron-Cohen
- Autism Research Centre, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Chao Yan
- Ministry of Education, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
| | - Raymond C. K. Chan
- Neuropsychology and Applied Cognitive Neuroscience Laboratory, CAS Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - David H. K. Shum
- School of Applied Psychology, Griffith University, Gold Coast, QLD, Australia
- Neuropsychology and Applied Cognitive Neuroscience Laboratory, CAS Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Hong Kong
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21
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Zhang Y, Xiang J, Wen J, Bian W, Sun L, Bai Z. Psychometric properties of the Chinese version of the empathy quotient among Chinese minority college students. Ann Gen Psychiatry 2018; 17:38. [PMID: 30250492 PMCID: PMC6146751 DOI: 10.1186/s12991-018-0209-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2017] [Accepted: 09/05/2018] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND When the minority college students from the ethnic minority communities come to study in Chinese Han region, they encounter adapting difficulties of culture and socio-psychology, in which empathy plays a crucial role. Current instruments used to measure empathy have many limited effectiveness. The empathy quotient (EQ) scale which has been validated in many countries was explicitly designed for clinical applications and was intended to be sensitive to a lack of empathy. This study is to develop a complete Chinese version of the EQ scale and to assess its reliability and validity among Chinese minority college students in the Han Chinese region. METHODS A total of 1638 Chinese minority college students in the Han region were selected and were randomly divided into two groups. One group of 818 students took part in the implementation of the exploratory factor analysis while the other group of 820 students participated in the confirmatory factor analysis. RESULTS Twenty-nine items of the EQ were retained based on the factor analysis and four factors were extracted: self-awareness, cognitive empathy, social skills, and emotional reactivity, which can explain 51.793% of the total variance. The factors of the EQ scale were significantly correlated with each other, with the correlation coefficient ranging from 0.316 to 0.563. The coefficient of internal consistency (Cronbach's α) was 0.824 for the total scale and ranged from 0.640 to 0.818 for the subscales. Confirmatory factor analysis proved that the measured data fitted well with the hypothesized four-factor model. All of the items in the scale fitted the model well, and the point-measure correlation coefficient had acceptable consistency. CONCLUSIONS The refined 29-item Chinese version of the EQ possesses good reliability and validity, and can be applied in assessing empathy among Chinese minority college students.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanjun Zhang
- College of Teacher Education, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua, zhejiang Province, People’s Republic of China
| | - JiuYu Xiang
- School of Marxism, Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei Province, People’s Republic of China
| | - Jianlin Wen
- School of Marxism, Chongqing University, No. 174 Shazhengjie, Shapingba, Chongqing, 400044 People’s Republic of China
| | - Wei Bian
- Southwest Eye Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Liangbin Sun
- School of Journalism and Communication, Chongqing University, Chongqing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Ziran Bai
- School of Journalism and Communication, Chongqing University, Chongqing, People’s Republic of China
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22
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