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Briganti G, Decety J, Scutari M, McNally RJ, Linkowski P. Using Bayesian Networks to Investigate Psychological Constructs: The Case of Empathy. Psychol Rep 2024; 127:2334-2346. [PMID: 36537224 DOI: 10.1177/00332941221146711] [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: 02/17/2024]
Abstract
Network analysis is an emerging field for the study of psychopathology that considers constructs as arising from the interactions among their constituents. Pairwise effects among psychological components are often investigated by using this framework. Few studies have applied Bayesian networks, models that include directed interactions to perform causal inference on psychological constructs. Directed graphical models may be less straightforward to interpret in case the construct at hand does not contain symptoms but instead psychometric items from self-report measures. However, they may be useful in validating specific research questions that arise while using standard pairwise network models. In this study, we use Bayesian networks to investigate a well-known psychological construct, empathy from the Interpersonal Reactivity Index, in large two samples of 1973 university students from Belgium. Overall, our results support the hypotheses emphasizing empathic concern (i.e., sympathy) as causally important in the construct of empathy, and overall attribute the primacy of emotional components of empathy over their intellectual counterparts. Bayesian networks help researchers identify the plausible causal relationships in psychometric data, to gain new insight on the psychological construct under examination, help generate new hypotheses and provide evidence relevant to old ones.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giovanni Briganti
- University of Mons, Mons, Belgium; Université libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium; Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | | | - Marco Scutari
- Istituto Dalle Molle di Studi sull'Intelligenza Artificiale, Manno, Switzerland
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Winters DE, Massey SH, Sakai JT. Adolescent substance use outcomes in response to social consequences of use: the role of empathy. JOURNAL OF DRUG ISSUES 2024; 54:202-217. [PMID: 38434989 PMCID: PMC10906742 DOI: 10.1177/00220426231159303] [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] [Indexed: 03/05/2024]
Abstract
Evidence suggests empathy deficits have a temporal relationship with substance use severity by late adolescence theorized to decrease use via recognition of social consequences. However, this has yet to be tested empirically along with differences in cognitive and affective empathy. Adolescents admitted to substance use treatment (n= 3,382) were followed through treatment and 12 months after treatment. Variable trajectories were fit using growth curve models; and cross-lagged effects of cognitive and affective empathy on response to social consequences of use were tested along with how response to social consequences affected the mean trajectory of substance use. Results indicate higher cognitive empathy predicted greater response to social consequences of use and response to these consequences at the end of treatment predicted a steeper decrease in substance use. This evidence highlights the importance of cognitive empathy for responding to social consequences of use for motivating less substance use in adolescents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Drew E Winters
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Anschutz Medical Campus, 13001 e. 17th place, Aurora, CO 80045-2559, USA
| | - Suena H Massey
- Department of Psychiatry, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 75 Francis Street, Boston, MA 02115
| | - Joseph T Sakai
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Anschutz Medical Campus, 13001 e. 17th place, Aurora, CO 80045-2559, USA
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3
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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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Beltrán-Morillas AM, Valor-Segura I, Expósito F. Unforgiveness in the Light of Sexual Infidelity: Anxious Attachment to the Partner and Personal Distress as Correlates. Psychol Rep 2023:332941231208395. [PMID: 37853525 DOI: 10.1177/00332941231208395] [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: 10/20/2023]
Abstract
It has been widely documented that infidelity is established as one of the main causes of relationship breakdowns. Likewise, the empirical literature has also revealed the association between anxious attachment and personal distress with unforgiveness motivations. However, there is no known research that has examined the role of anxious attachment to the partner, personal distress, and unforgiveness motivations in infidelity and even less, taking into account the perspective of the offended person. Through a correlational study (N = 304 Spanish participants from the general population [M = 26.25, SD = 9.62]), we examined the relationship between unforgiveness motivations (revenge and avoidance motivations for unforgiveness), anxious attachment to the partner, and personal distress experienced after a hypothetical sexual infidelity from the perspective of the offended person. The results showed that anxious attachment was positively associated with revenge motivation for unforgiveness and personal distress. Moreover, high levels of anxious attachment to the partner were only associated with higher avoidance motivation for unforgiveness through increased levels of personal distress. Last but not least, we discuss these findings and their possible repercussions for intimate relationships.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana M Beltrán-Morillas
- Department of Developmental and Educational Psychology, Department of Social Psychology, Mind, Brain, and Behavior Research Center (CIMCYC), University of Granada, Granada, Spain
| | - Inmaculada Valor-Segura
- Department of Developmental and Educational Psychology, Department of Social Psychology, Mind, Brain, and Behavior Research Center (CIMCYC), University of Granada, Granada, Spain
| | - Francisca Expósito
- Department of Developmental and Educational Psychology, Department of Social Psychology, Mind, Brain, and Behavior Research Center (CIMCYC), University of Granada, Granada, Spain
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Sörman K, Fakih A, Caman S, Kelley SE, Poghosyan K, Gustavsson P, Edens JF, Howner K. Psychopathic Traits in a Swedish Court-Ordered Forensic Sample: Preferential Associations of Boldness, Meanness, and Disinhibition. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF OFFENDER THERAPY AND COMPARATIVE CRIMINOLOGY 2023:306624X231188233. [PMID: 37599377 DOI: 10.1177/0306624x231188233] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/22/2023]
Abstract
The construct validity of the triarchic psychopathy model has yet to be evaluated in the Swedish forensic psychiatric context. We examined associations between the three phenotypic constructs of the triarchic model of psychopathy (i.e., boldness, meanness, disinhibition), self-assessed empathy and anxiety, and clinical variables in 91 individuals undergoing pretrial forensic psychiatric evaluation in Sweden. Participants completed the Triarchic Psychopathy Measure (TriPM) and self-report measures of empathy and anxiety. Clinical variables, including psychiatric diagnoses and criminal behavior, were collected from the forensic psychiatric evaluations (FPE). All three subscales of the TriPM displayed significant and predominantly anticipated correlations with empathy and trait anxiety measures. TriPM Disinhibition was the only subscale with significant associations with the clinical variables collected from the FPEs. The results provide evidence for the reliability and construct validity of the Swedish translation of the TriPM in a pretrial forensic setting.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ayman Fakih
- Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- National Board of Forensic Medicine, Huddinge, Sweden
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Katarina Howner
- Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- National Board of Forensic Medicine, Huddinge, Sweden
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Seeking connectedness through social media use: associations with adolescent empathic understanding and perspective-taking. CURRENT PSYCHOLOGY 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s12144-022-04096-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
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Dåderman AM, Kajonius PJ, Hallberg A, Skog S, Hellström Å. Leading with a cool head and a warm heart: trait-based leadership resources linked to task performance, perceived stress, and work engagement. CURRENT PSYCHOLOGY 2022; 42:1-22. [PMID: 36468165 PMCID: PMC9684842 DOI: 10.1007/s12144-022-03767-8] [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] [Accepted: 09/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Leaders of today need to achieve well in terms of task performance, perceiving low stress, and having high levels of work engagement. One may ask whether trait-based leadership resource factors can be identified and how such resource factors might relate to task performance, perceived stress, and work engagement. Our aim was to test the hypothesis, derived from Hobfoll's motivational Conservation of Resources (COR) theory, that there are trait-based leadership resource factors, which are differentially correlated to the leaders' task performance, perceived stress, and work engagement. Leaders (N = 344) aged from 23 to 65 years (M = 49, SD = 8.6; 58% women) completed an online questionnaire including measures of task performance, perceived stress, work engagement, personality traits, trait emotional intelligence, empathy, performance-related self-esteem, compassionate and rational leadership competence, and coping resources for stress. Using exploratory factor analysis, we identified four trait-based leadership resource factors. With Bonferroni adjustment, and controlling for sex, age, number of years in the current managerial position, self-deceptive enhancement, and impression management, only Rational Mastery was significantly positively correlated with task performance. Rational Mastery, Efficient Coping, and Modesty were negatively correlated with perceived stress, and all factors except Modesty, but including the fourth (Good-Heartedness) were positively correlated with work engagement. Organizations striving for sustainable work conditions should support trait-based leadership, which depends not only on a task-oriented resource such as rational mastery, but also on human-oriented resources such as efficient coping, modesty, and good-heartedness, all of them being differentially related to task performance, perceived stress, and work engagement. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12144-022-03767-8.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Maria Dåderman
- Department of Social and Behavioural Studies, University West, Trollhättan, Sweden
| | - Petri Juhani Kajonius
- Department of Social and Behavioural Studies, University West, Trollhättan, Sweden
- Department of Psychology, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Angela Hallberg
- Department of Social and Behavioural Studies, University West, Trollhättan, Sweden
| | - Sandra Skog
- Department of Social and Behavioural Studies, University West, Trollhättan, Sweden
| | - Åke Hellström
- Department of Psychology, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
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Dučić B, Kaljača S, Stojković I. Relationship between the Broader Autism Phenotype and empathy among students. PRIMENJENA PSIHOLOGIJA 2022. [DOI: 10.19090/pp.v15i3.2381] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Previous research has shown that persons with a higher level of the broad autism phenotype (BAP) experience deficits in empathy. The aim of the present study is to investigate a multivariate relationship between the BAP and different aspects of empathy. In a sample of 293 university students, we explored the relationship between the BAP and the following aspects of empathy: fantasy, empathic concern, perspective taking, and personal distress. The BAP level was measured using The Broad Autism Phenotype Questionnaire (BAPQ), and the Interpersonal Reactivity Index was used for multidimensional assessment of empathy disposition. Canonical correlation analysis yielded two functions (Function 1 ̶ Rc2 = 17.31%, Function 2 ̶ Rc2 = 10.82%). In Function 1, IRI subscales Personal Distress (PD) (rs = .92) and Perspective Taking (PT) (rs = -.39) are associated significantly with all three domains of the BAP. The strongest correlation PD and PT show with Rigid and Pragmatic Language domains of the BAP, while they demonstrate a weaker relationship with the Aloofness domain. In Function 2, IRI subscales Empathic Concern (EC) (rs = -.98), Fantasy (FS) (rs = -.46), PT (rs = -.43) and PD (rs = -.31) are related to the Aloofness domain of the BAP. The results imply that the relationship between BAP and empathy differs for different aspects of these two constructs. The more detailed understanding of the relationship between BAP and empathy obtained through the multivariate approach provides a basis from which to create programs for the more efficient promotion of empathy skills.
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Bray KO, Pozzi E, Vijayakumar N, Richmond S, Deane C, Pantelis C, Anderson V, Whittle S. Individual differences in brain structure and self-reported empathy in children. COGNITIVE, AFFECTIVE & BEHAVIORAL NEUROSCIENCE 2022; 22:1078-1089. [PMID: 35338471 PMCID: PMC9458571 DOI: 10.3758/s13415-022-00993-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Empathy refers to the understanding and sharing of others' emotions and comprises cognitive and affective components. Empathy is important for social functioning, and alterations in empathy have been demonstrated in many developmental or psychiatric disorders. While several studies have examined associations between empathy and brain structure in adults, few have investigated this relationship in children. Investigating associations between empathy and brain structure during childhood will help us to develop a deeper understanding of the neural correlates of empathy across the lifespan. A total of 125 children (66 females, mean age 10 years) underwent magnetic resonance imaging brain scans. Grey matter volume and cortical thickness from structural images were examined using the Computational Anatomy Toolbox (CAT12) within Statistical Parametric Mapping (SPM12) software. Children completed questionnaire measures of empathy (cognitive empathy, affective empathy: affective sharing, empathic concern, and empathic distress). In hypothesised region of interest analyses, individual differences in affective and cognitive empathy were related to grey matter volume in the insula and the precuneus. Although these relationships were of similar strength to those found in previous research, they did not survive correction for the total number of models computed. While no significant findings were detected between grey matter volume and empathy in exploratory whole-brain analysis, associations were found between cortical thickness and empathic concern in the right precentral gyrus. This study provides preliminary evidence that individual differences in self-reported empathy in children may be related to aspects of brain structure. Findings highlight the need for more research investigating the neurobiological correlates of empathy in children.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine O Bray
- Melbourne Neuropsychiatry Centre (MNC), Department of Psychiatry, The University of Melbourne & Melbourne Health, Melbourne, Australia.
- Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia.
| | - Elena Pozzi
- Melbourne Neuropsychiatry Centre (MNC), Department of Psychiatry, The University of Melbourne & Melbourne Health, Melbourne, Australia
| | | | - Sally Richmond
- Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health, School of Psychological Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Camille Deane
- School of Psychology, Deakin University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Christos Pantelis
- Melbourne Neuropsychiatry Centre (MNC), Department of Psychiatry, The University of Melbourne & Melbourne Health, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Vicki Anderson
- Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
- Murdoch Children's Research Centre, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Sarah Whittle
- Melbourne Neuropsychiatry Centre (MNC), Department of Psychiatry, The University of Melbourne & Melbourne Health, Melbourne, Australia
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Yadav S, Tiwari T, Yadav AK, Dubey N, Mishra LK, Singh AL, Kapoor P. Role of Workplace Spirituality, Empathic Concern and Organizational Politics in Employee Wellbeing: A Study on Police Personnel. Front Psychol 2022; 13:881675. [PMID: 35572283 PMCID: PMC9105451 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.881675] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2022] [Accepted: 04/04/2022] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Employee wellbeing as a central aspect of organizational growth has been widely regarded and accepted. Therefore, a considerable growth in the number of researches focusing on employee wellbeing has been comprehended in recent years. Employee wellbeing characterizes the individual's own cognitive interpretation of his/her life at work. The present study made an attempt to examine how workplace spirituality, empathic concern and organizational politics influences employee wellbeing. It was hypothesized that empathic concern mediates the relationship between workplace spirituality and employee wellbeing while organizational politics act as a moderator in this relationship. A survey was conducted on 253 employees working in Uttar Pradesh Police department (Uttar Pradesh, India). The results obtained revealed that workplace spirituality, empathic concern and employee wellbeing carries a positive association among them whereas these variables were found to be negatively correlated with organizational politics. Results also depicted that empathic concern significantly mediates between workplace spirituality and employee wellbeing. Further, moderated mediation analysis confirmed employee wellbeing as a function of workplace spirituality, empathic concern and organizational politics. The present study has put forward several practical implications for business practitioners and research directions for academicians, emphasizing upon the need to investigate the comprehensive impact of employee wellbeing in organization and the society as a whole.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shreshtha Yadav
- Department of Psychology, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India
| | - Trayambak Tiwari
- Department of Psychology, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India
| | - Anil Kumar Yadav
- Department of Psychology, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India
| | - Neha Dubey
- Department of Psychology, Rajendra College, Jai Prakash University, Chapra, India
| | - Lalit Kumar Mishra
- Department of Psychology, Indira Gandhi National Tribal University, Amarkantak, India
| | - Anju L. Singh
- Department of Psychology, Vasanta Kanya Mahavidhyalaya, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India
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Beals K, Sperry SH, Sheffield JM. Empathy, Emotion Recognition, and Paranoia in the General Population. Front Psychol 2022; 13:804178. [PMID: 35282255 PMCID: PMC8908382 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.804178] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2021] [Accepted: 01/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Paranoia is associated with a multitude of social cognitive deficits, observed in both clinical and subclinical populations. Empathy is significantly and broadly impaired in schizophrenia, yet its relationship with subclinical paranoia is poorly understood. Furthermore, deficits in emotion recognition - a very early component of empathic processing - are present in both clinical and subclinical paranoia. Deficits in emotion recognition may therefore underlie relationships between paranoia and empathic processing. The current investigation aims to add to the literature on social cognition and paranoia by: (1) characterizing the relationship between paranoia and empathy, and (2) testing whether there is an indirect effect of emotion recognition on the relationship between empathy and paranoia. Methods Paranoia, empathy, and emotion recognition were assessed in a non-clinical sample of adults (n = 226) from the Nathan Kline Institute-Rockland (NKI-Rockland) dataset. Paranoia was measured using the Peters Delusions Inventory-21 (PDI-21). Empathy was measured using the Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI), a self-report instrument designed to assess empathy using four subscales: Personal Distress, Empathic Concern, Perspective Taking, and Fantasy. Emotion recognition was assessed using the Penn Emotion Recognition Test (ER-40). Structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to estimate relationships between paranoia, the four measures of empathy and emotion recognition. Results Paranoia was associated with the Fantasy subscale of the IRI, such that higher Fantasy was associated with more severe paranoia (p < 0.001). No other empathy subscales were associated with paranoia. Fantasy was also associated with the emotion recognition of fear, such that higher Fantasy was correlated with better recognition of fear (p = 0.008). Paranoia and emotion recognition were not significantly associated. The Empathic Concern subscale was negatively associated with emotion recognition, with higher empathic concern related to worse overall emotion recognition (p = 0.002). All indirect paths through emotion recognition were non-significant. Discussion These results suggest that imaginative perspective-taking contributes to paranoia in the general population. These data do not, however, point to robust global relationships between empathy and paranoia or to emotion recognition as an underlying mechanism. Deficits in empathy and emotion recognition observed in schizophrenia may be associated with the broader pathology of schizophrenia, and therefore not detectable with subclinical populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kendall Beals
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, United States
| | - Sarah H. Sperry
- Michigan Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Julia M. Sheffield
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, United States
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Golbabaei S, Barati M, Haromi ME, Ghazazani N, Borhani K. Development and construct validation of a short form of the interpersonal reactivity index in Iranian community. CURRENT PSYCHOLOGY 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s12144-022-02716-9] [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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13
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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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Goldberg SB, Imhoff-Smith T, Bolt DM, Wilson-Mendenhall CD, Dahl CJ, Davidson RJ, Rosenkranz MA. Testing the Efficacy of a Multicomponent, Self-Guided, Smartphone-Based Meditation App: Three-Armed Randomized Controlled Trial. JMIR Ment Health 2020; 7:e23825. [PMID: 33245288 PMCID: PMC7732708 DOI: 10.2196/23825] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2020] [Revised: 10/23/2020] [Accepted: 10/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND A growing number of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) suggest psychological benefits associated with meditation training delivered via mobile health. However, research in this area has primarily focused on mindfulness, only one of many meditative techniques. OBJECTIVE This study aims to evaluate the efficacy of 2 versions of a self-guided, smartphone-based meditation app-the Healthy Minds Program (HMP)-which includes training in mindfulness (Awareness), along with practices designed to cultivate positive relationships (Connection) or insight into the nature of the self (Insight). METHODS A three-arm, fully remote RCT compared 8 weeks of one of 2 HMP conditions (Awareness+Connection and Awareness+Insight) with a waitlist control. Adults (≥18 years) without extensive previous meditation experience were eligible. The primary outcome was psychological distress (depression, anxiety, and stress). Secondary outcomes were social connection, empathy, compassion, self-reflection, insight, rumination, defusion, and mindfulness. Measures were completed at pretest, midtreatment, and posttest between October 2019 and April 2020. Longitudinal data were analyzed using intention-to-treat principles with maximum likelihood. RESULTS A total of 343 participants were randomized and 186 (54.2%) completed at least one posttest assessment. The majority (166/228, 72.8%) of those assigned to HMP conditions downloaded the app. The 2 HMP conditions did not differ from one another in terms of changes in any outcome. Relative to the waitlist control, the HMP conditions showed larger improvements in distress, social connectedness, mindfulness, and measures theoretically linked to insight training (d=-0.28 to 0.41; Ps≤.02), despite modest exposure to connection- and insight-related practice. The results were robust to some assumptions about nonrandom patterns of missing data. Improvements in distress were associated with days of use. Candidate mediators (social connection, insight, rumination, defusion, and mindfulness) and moderators (baseline rumination, defusion, and empathy) of changes in distress were identified. CONCLUSIONS This study provides initial evidence of efficacy for the HMP app in reducing distress and improving outcomes related to well-being, including social connectedness. Future studies should attempt to increase study retention and user engagement. TRIAL REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04139005; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04139005.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simon B Goldberg
- Center for Healthy Minds, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, United States
- Department of Counseling Psychology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States
| | | | - Daniel M Bolt
- Department of Educational Psychology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States
| | | | - Cortland J Dahl
- Center for Healthy Minds, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, United States
- Healthy Minds Innovations Inc, Madison, WI, United States
| | - Richard J Davidson
- Center for Healthy Minds, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, United States
- Department of Psychology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States
| | - Melissa A Rosenkranz
- Center for Healthy Minds, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, United States
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States
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15
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Focusing: A new challenger for improving the empathy skills of medical students. Complement Ther Med 2020; 53:102536. [PMID: 33066864 DOI: 10.1016/j.ctim.2020.102536] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2020] [Revised: 07/17/2020] [Accepted: 07/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Studies of empathy among medical students reported an alarming significant decline during medical education. Some authors identified the third year of education as the most problematic one: empathy decreased significantly when the curriculum was shifting to patient-care activities. Scientists have tried to address the means and methods for improving empathy skills (e.g., by improving communication abilities), but investigations on this topic are missing. Based on the Damasio's hypothesis and scientific studies, we assume that Focusing (i.e., an embodied practice where one attends to a bodily felt sense and uses it to understand the self and situations) would be significantly and positively linked to empathy. METHOD After their clinical internships, we selected third-year medical students (N = 121) and asked them to complete three questionnaires assessing empathy, Focusing, and social desirability. RESULTS By controlling social desirability, findings confirmed that Focusing (especially the "having access to the felt body" component) was significantly and positively linked with empathy (i.e., Fantasy & Perspective-Taking), and positively predicted Fantasy, Perspective-Taking, and Empathic Concern. CONCLUSIONS These preliminary results suggest that the felt body plays a role in increasing empathy (mainly on cognitive empathy). Few scientific studies have described constructs that significantly promote cognitive empathy and empathic concern (a deeply anchored trait of empathy), which suggests new avenues of investigation.
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16
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Bayne HB, Conley AH, Colburn AN. Counselor Empathy; Religiosity; and Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Perspectives. COUNSELING AND VALUES 2020. [DOI: 10.1002/cvj.12122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Hannah Barnhill Bayne
- Department of Pastoral CounselingLoyola University Maryland
- Now at the Department of Counselor EducationUniversity of Florida Gainesville
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17
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Understanding empathy and its disorders through a focus on the neural mechanism. Cortex 2020; 127:347-370. [PMID: 32278184 DOI: 10.1016/j.cortex.2020.03.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2019] [Revised: 03/02/2020] [Accepted: 03/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Empathy is a complex, multi-dimensional process. As such, it can be impaired at multiple stages, producing disorders of empathy with separable underlying causes. Studies often divide empathy into emotional and cognitive components to simplify the large space of empathic processes. This practice can be helpful, but also causes people to misunderstand their interdependence at the level of the mechanism and how they correspond to surveys and tasks. As a result, inferences made from experimental results are often incorrect and cannot be integrated across studies. We explain how emotional and cognitive empathy overlap through the proximate mechanism and clarify their operationalization in common surveys and tasks. A systematic review of three clinical disorders is used to highlight this issue and reinterpret and unite results according to the proximate framework--Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD), Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD), and Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD). Aligning constructs through the proximate mechanism allows us to understand both empathy and its disorders.
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18
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Verkade M, Karsten J, Koenraadt F, Schalkwijk F. Conscience as a Regulatory Function: An Integrative Theory Put to the Test. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF OFFENDER THERAPY AND COMPARATIVE CRIMINOLOGY 2020; 64:375-395. [PMID: 31609142 DOI: 10.1177/0306624x19881918] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
The subject of this study is an integrative theory of the conscience. According to this theory, conscience is operationalised as a regulatory function of one's own behaviour and identity, resulting from an interplay of empathy, self-conscious emotions such as guilt and shame, and moral reasoning. This study aimed to evaluate conscience in an adult forensic psychiatric sample by assessing the underlying factors proposed by Schalkwijk. Offenders (n = 48) appeared to show less affective but not less cognitive empathy, less identification with others, less personal distress in seeing others' suffering, less shame and shame-proneness, and lower levels of moral reasoning than non-offenders (n = 50). In coping with self-conscious emotions, offenders used the same amount of externalising coping strategies, but fewer internalising coping strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Frans Koenraadt
- GGZ Drenthe, Assen, The Netherlands
- Utrecht University, The Netherlands
- Netherlands Institute for Forensic Psychiatry and Psychology, Utrecht, The Netherlands
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19
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Levett‐Jones T, Cant R. The empathy continuum: An evidenced‐based teaching model derived from an integrative review of contemporary nursing literature. J Clin Nurs 2020; 29:1026-1040. [DOI: 10.1111/jocn.15137] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2019] [Revised: 09/29/2019] [Accepted: 11/18/2019] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Robyn Cant
- Faculty of Health University of Technology Sydney Ultimo NSW Australia
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20
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Eddy CM. What Do You Have in Mind? Measures to Assess Mental State Reasoning in Neuropsychiatric Populations. Front Psychiatry 2019; 10:425. [PMID: 31354534 PMCID: PMC6636467 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2019.00425] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2019] [Accepted: 05/29/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Social interaction is closely associated with both functional capacity and well-being. Previous research has not only revealed evidence of social dysfunction in individuals with a wide range of psychiatric and neurological disorders but also generated an abundance of potential measures for assessing social cognition. This review explores the most popular measures used within neuropsychiatric populations to investigate the ability to recognize or reason about the mental states of others. Measures are also critically analyzed in terms of strengths and limitations to aid task selection in future clinical studies. The most frequently applied assessment tools use verbal, visual or audiovisual forms of presentation and assess recognition of mental states from facial features, self-rated empathy, the understanding of other's cognitive mental states such as beliefs and intentions, or the ability to combine knowledge of other's thoughts and emotions in order to understand subtle communications or socially inappropriate behavior. Key weaknesses of previous research include limited investigation of relationships with clinical symptoms, and underutilization of measures of everyday social functioning that offer a useful counterpart to traditional "lab" tasks. Future studies should aim to carefully select measures not only based on the range of skills to be assessed but also taking into account potential difficulties with interpretation and the need to gain insight into the application of social cognitive skills as well as ability per se. Some of the best measures include those with well-matched control trials (e.g., Yoni Task) or those that restrict the influence of verbal deficits (e.g., intentions comic strip task), elicit spontaneous mentalizing (e.g., Animations Task), and possess greater ecological validity (e.g., Movie for the Assessment of Social Cognition). Social cognitive research within psychiatric populations will be further enhanced through the development of more closely matched control tasks, and the exploration of relationships between task performance, medication, strategy use, and broader emotional and motor functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clare M. Eddy
- Research and Innovation, BSMHFT National Centre for Mental Health, Birmingham, United Kingdom
- Institute of Clinical Sciences, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
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21
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Schreuders E, Smeekens S, Cillessen AH, Güroğlu B. Friends and foes: Neural correlates of prosocial decisions with peers in adolescence. Neuropsychologia 2019; 129:153-163. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2019.03.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2018] [Revised: 02/03/2019] [Accepted: 03/07/2019] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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22
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Fernández-Abascal EG, Martín-Díaz MD. Relations Between Dimensions of Emotional Intelligence, Specific Aspects of Empathy, and Non-verbal Sensitivity. Front Psychol 2019; 10:1066. [PMID: 31156505 PMCID: PMC6530333 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2019.01066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2018] [Accepted: 04/24/2019] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
In this work, on the one hand, we examined the relationship between emotional intelligence (EI) and empathy and, on the other, the relationship between EI and non-verbal sensitivity, through two independent studies. The first study analyzed the relationship between dimensions of EI and aspects of empathy, in a sample of 856 participants who completed two measures of EI, the trait meta-mood scale (TMMS) and the trait emotional intelligence questionnaire (TEIQue), and a measure of empathy, the interpersonal reactivity index (IRI). The results showed a similar pattern of significant positive relations in all the EI domains with empathic perspective-taking (PT), and significant negative relationships with empathic personal distress (PD), except for the EI domain of attention, which had a positive relationship. Stepwise multiple regression analyses showed that the dimension that best predicted empathic PT and empathic concern (EC) was the emotionality factor; whereas attention best predicted empathic fantasy; and the self-control factor best predicted PD, although negatively. Gender emerged as a predictor of three empathic aspects, fantasy, EC, and PD, with women obtaining higher scores than men in all of them. Age was the only predictor of fantasy, with a negative relationship. The second study involved 646 people who completed the same measures of EI as the participants of the first study and the mini-profile of non-verbal sensitivity (Mini-PONS). The results showed some significant relationships between EI dimensions and the channels and quadrants of the MiniPONS. Stepwise multiple regression analyses showed that very few EI dimensions predicted non-verbal sensitivity, with attention obtaining the best result. Both gender and age emerged as predictors, some in unique cases, of channels, quadrants, and of the total score of non-verbal sensitivity; age had a negative relationship, and women obtained higher scores than men.
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23
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Innamorati M, Ebisch SJH, Gallese V, Saggino A. A bidimensional measure of empathy: Empathic Experience Scale. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0216164. [PMID: 31034510 PMCID: PMC6488069 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0216164] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2018] [Accepted: 04/15/2019] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Empathy is a key notion in the study of sociality. A phenomenological perspective on empathy as intersubjective understanding offers a common ground for multiple dimensions. Corresponding to the dichotomy between perceptual and cognitive levels, two constructs can be distinguished: vicariously experiencing and intuitively understanding others’ emotions. We developed and validated a new questionnaire for the assessment of individual differences in empathy. In a first study (N = 921), we created a questionnaire measuring empathy consisting of a pool of 75 items. Exploratory factor analysis suggested to retain two factors (“Intuitive Understanding” and “Vicarious Experience”), whereas a 30-item version of the questionnaire had satisfactory psychometric properties. In a second study (N = 504), we administered the 30-items questionnaire and several concurrent/divergent measures. Confirmatory factor analysis indicated that a two-factor structure best represented its latent factor structure. The results show that our questionnaire could be considered a reliable and valid measure of empathy with internal consistencies of 0.93 and 0.95 for Vicarious Experience and Intuitive Intuitive Understanding, respectively. Whereas our questionnaire mostly showed the expected convergence with existing scales of empathy, the correlations also suggest that it adds valuable new information to the assessment of empathy. The two-factor structure suggests that the perceptual (vicarious) experience and the basic (non-effortful) cognitive awareness of others’ emotions can be assessed as distinct constructs. This bidimensional structure that distinguishes between the perceptual experience and the basic cognitive awareness of others’ emotional states connects theoretical, empirical, and clinical data from psychology and neuroscience.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco Innamorati
- Department of Neuroscience, Imaging and Clinical Sciences, Institute of Advanced Biomedical Technologies (ITAB), G. d'Annunzio University of Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy
- Department of Human Sciences, Università Europea di Roma, Rome, Italy
| | - Sjoerd J. H. Ebisch
- Department of Neuroscience, Imaging and Clinical Sciences, Institute of Advanced Biomedical Technologies (ITAB), G. d'Annunzio University of Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy
- * E-mail:
| | - Vittorio Gallese
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, Unit of Neuroscience, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
- Institute of Philosophy, School of Advanced Study, University of London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Aristide Saggino
- School of Medicine and Health Sciences, G. d’Annunzio University of Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy
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24
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Kursakov AA, Sirota NA, Moskovchenko DV, Yaltonsky VM, Yaltonskaya AV. [Modern concepts of nature and pathogenesis of depression (a psychological aspect)]. Zh Nevrol Psikhiatr Im S S Korsakova 2019; 119:4-9. [PMID: 31006784 DOI: 10.17116/jnevro2019119124] [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: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
This review addresses the impairment of cognitive processes in depression, interpersonal interactions and empathy in depressive patients. The authors consider cognitive models of depression showing distortions in domains of attention, memory and interpretation, that may lead to utilizing the rigid automatic approaches of situation evaluation, which impair emotional regulation. Interpersonal theories describe patterns of interpersonal interactions and dysfunctional personal characteristics (interpersonal inhibition, insecure attachment styles) also influencing onset and maintenance of depressive states.
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Affiliation(s)
- A A Kursakov
- National Medical Research Center for Preventive Medicine, Moscow, Russia
| | - N A Sirota
- Yevdokimov Moscow State University of Medicine and Dentistry, Moscow, Russia
| | - D V Moskovchenko
- Yevdokimov Moscow State University of Medicine and Dentistry, Moscow, Russia
| | - V M Yaltonsky
- Yevdokimov Moscow State University of Medicine and Dentistry, Moscow, Russia
| | - A V Yaltonskaya
- Serbsky National Medical Research Center for Psychiatry and Narcology, Moscow, Russia
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25
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26
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Warren JA, Nash A. Using Expressive Arts in Online Education to Identify Feelings. JOURNAL OF CREATIVITY IN MENTAL HEALTH 2018. [DOI: 10.1080/15401383.2018.1525689] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Ashley Nash
- Saybrook University, Oakland, California, USA
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27
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Buonocore M, Bosia M, Baraldi MA, Bechi M, Spangaro M, Cocchi F, Bianchi L, Guglielmino C, Mastromatteo AR, Cavallaro R. Exploring anxiety in schizophrenia: New light on a hidden figure. Psychiatry Res 2018; 268:312-316. [PMID: 30092453 DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2018.07.039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2017] [Revised: 05/17/2018] [Accepted: 07/28/2018] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Anxiety is among the least studied features of schizophrenia, despite evidence of its significant impact on disease outcome. This work aims to investigate the anxiety construct in a sample of outpatients with schizophrenia, exploring the interplay of clinical, neurocognitive and social cognitive domains, as well as adverse childhood experiences and their relative contribute in determining anxiety. A forward stepwise regression model was performed on a sample of 68 outpatients with schizophrenia, to examine the predictive effect of different variables on anxiety. Predictors have been selected based on previous literature and include psychopathological, neurocognitive and social cognitive measures, as well as premorbid environmental factors. The analysis showed a significant contribution of childhood adverse experiences, followed by personal distress, while no significant effect was found for symptom's severity, nor global cognitive efficiency. The results show that anxiety is mainly determined by early environmental factors, as well as by socio-cognitive dimensions, such as personal distress. Data also suggest that anxiety can be considered as an independent construct, rather than as a mere epiphenomenon of the illness. The study has clinical implications as it highlights the importance of implementing both standardized assessments and group interventions specifically targeting anxiety in schizophrenia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariachiara Buonocore
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Marta Bosia
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy; School of Medicine, Vita -Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy.
| | | | - Margherita Bechi
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Marco Spangaro
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy; School of Medicine, Vita -Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy
| | - Federica Cocchi
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Laura Bianchi
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Carmelo Guglielmino
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Antonella Rita Mastromatteo
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy; School of Medicine, Vita -Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy
| | - Roberto Cavallaro
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy; School of Medicine, Vita -Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy
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28
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Briganti G, Kempenaers C, Braun S, Fried EI, Linkowski P. Network analysis of empathy items from the interpersonal reactivity index in 1973 young adults. Psychiatry Res 2018; 265:87-92. [PMID: 29702306 DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2018.03.082] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2017] [Revised: 03/27/2018] [Accepted: 03/29/2018] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
The aim of this work is to perform a network analysis on the French adaptation of the interpersonal reactivity index (IRI) scale from a large Belgian database and provide additional information for the construct of empathy. We analyze a database of 1973 healthy young adults who were queried on the IRI scale. A regularized partial correlation network is estimated. In the visualization of the model, items are displayed as nodes, edges represent regularized partial correlations between the nodes. Centrality denotes a node's connectedness with other nodes in the network. The spinglass algorithm and the walktrap algorithm are used to identify communities of items, and state-of-the-art stability analyses are carried out. The spinglass algorithm identifies four communities, the walktrap algorithm five communities. Positive edges are found among nodes belonging to the same community as well as among nodes belonging to different communities. Item 14 ("Other people's misfortunes do not usually disturb me a great deal") shows the highest strength centrality score. The network edges and node centrality order are accurately estimated. Network analysis highlights interesting connections between indicators of empathy; how these results impact empathy models must be assessed in further studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giovanni Briganti
- Department of Psychiatry, C.U.B., Erasme Hospital, Université libre de Bruxelles, Route de Lennik 808, Brussels 1070, Belgium.
| | - Chantal Kempenaers
- Department of Psychiatry, C.U.B., Erasme Hospital, Université libre de Bruxelles, Route de Lennik 808, Brussels 1070, Belgium
| | - Stéphanie Braun
- Department of Psychiatry, C.U.B., Erasme Hospital, Université libre de Bruxelles, Route de Lennik 808, Brussels 1070, Belgium
| | - Eiko I Fried
- Department of Psychology, University of Amsterdam, Nieuwe Achtergracht 129-B, Room G0.28, Amsterdam 1001NK, Netherlands
| | - Paul Linkowski
- Department of Psychiatry, C.U.B., Erasme Hospital, Université libre de Bruxelles, Route de Lennik 808, Brussels 1070, Belgium
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29
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KENWARD B, BERGGREN M, KITAZAKI M, ITAKURA S, KANAKOGI Y. IMPLICIT SOCIAL ASSOCIATIONS FOR GEOMETRIC-SHAPE AGENTS MORE STRONGLY INFLUENCED BY VISUAL FORM THAN BY EXPLICITLY IDENTIFIED SOCIAL ACTIONS. PSYCHOLOGIA 2018. [DOI: 10.2117/psysoc.2019-a005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
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30
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Rempala DM, Okdie BM. Safe harbor: Personality and the acceptance of online piracy. PERSONALITY AND INDIVIDUAL DIFFERENCES 2017. [DOI: 10.1016/j.paid.2017.07.042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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31
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Sturm VE, Perry DC, Wood K, Hua AY, Alcantar O, Datta S, Rankin KP, Rosen HJ, Miller BL, Kramer JH. Prosocial deficits in behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia relate to reward network atrophy. Brain Behav 2017; 7:e00807. [PMID: 29075567 PMCID: PMC5651391 DOI: 10.1002/brb3.807] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2017] [Revised: 07/07/2017] [Accepted: 07/20/2017] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Empathy and shared feelings of reward motivate individuals to share resources with others when material gain is not at stake. Behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia (bvFTD) is a neurodegenerative disease that affects emotion- and reward-relevant neural systems. Although there is diminished empathy and altered reward processing in bvFTD, how the disease impacts prosocial behavior is less well understood. METHODS A total of 74 participants (20 bvFTD, 15 Alzheimer's disease [AD], and 39 healthy controls) participated in this study. Inspired by token-based paradigms from animal studies, we developed a novel task to measure prosocial giving (the "Giving Game"). On each trial of the Giving Game, participants decided how much money to offer to the experimenter, and prosocial giving was the total amount that participants gave to the experimenter when it cost them nothing to give. Voxel-based morphometry was then used to identify brain regions that were associated with prosocial giving. RESULTS Prosocial giving was lower in bvFTD than in healthy controls; prosocial giving in AD did not differ significantly from either of the other groups. Whereas lower prosocial giving was associated with atrophy in the right pulvinar nucleus of the thalamus, greater prosocial giving was associated with atrophy in the left ventral striatum. CONCLUSION These findings suggest that simple acts of generosity deteriorate in bvFTD due to lateralized atrophy in reward-relevant neural systems that promote shared feelings of positive affect.
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Affiliation(s)
- Virginia E Sturm
- Department of Neurology University of California San Francisco CA USA.,Sandler Neurosciences Center San Francisco CA USA
| | - David C Perry
- Department of Neurology University of California San Francisco CA USA.,Sandler Neurosciences Center San Francisco CA USA
| | - Kristie Wood
- Department of Neurology University of California San Francisco CA USA.,Sandler Neurosciences Center San Francisco CA USA
| | - Alice Y Hua
- Department of Neurology University of California San Francisco CA USA.,Sandler Neurosciences Center San Francisco CA USA
| | - Oscar Alcantar
- Department of Neurology University of California San Francisco CA USA.,Sandler Neurosciences Center San Francisco CA USA
| | - Samir Datta
- Department of Neurology University of California San Francisco CA USA.,Sandler Neurosciences Center San Francisco CA USA
| | - Katherine P Rankin
- Department of Neurology University of California San Francisco CA USA.,Sandler Neurosciences Center San Francisco CA USA
| | - Howard J Rosen
- Department of Neurology University of California San Francisco CA USA.,Sandler Neurosciences Center San Francisco CA USA
| | - Bruce L Miller
- Department of Neurology University of California San Francisco CA USA.,Sandler Neurosciences Center San Francisco CA USA
| | - Joel H Kramer
- Department of Neurology University of California San Francisco CA USA.,Sandler Neurosciences Center San Francisco CA USA
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Tamm S, Nilsonne G, Schwarz J, Lamm C, Kecklund G, Petrovic P, Fischer H, Åkerstedt T, Lekander M. The effect of sleep restriction on empathy for pain: An fMRI study in younger and older adults. Sci Rep 2017; 7:12236. [PMID: 28947790 PMCID: PMC5612991 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-12098-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2017] [Accepted: 09/04/2017] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Age and sleep both affect emotional functioning. Since sleep patterns change over the lifespan, we investigated the effects of short sleep and age on empathic responses. In a randomized cross-over experimental design, healthy young and older volunteers (n = 47 aged 20–30 years and n = 39 aged 65–75 years) underwent functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) after normal sleep or night sleep restricted to 3 hours. During fMRI, participants viewed pictures of needles pricking a hand (pain) or Q-tips touching a hand (control), a well-established paradigm to investigate empathy for pain. There was no main effect of sleep restriction on empathy. However, age and sleep interacted so that sleep restriction caused increased unpleasantness in older but not in young participants. Irrespective of sleep condition, older participants showed increased activity in angular gyrus, superior temporal sulcus and temporo-parietal junction compared to young. Speculatively, this could indicate that the older individuals adopted a more cognitive approach in response to others’ pain. Our findings suggest that caution in generalizability across age groups is needed in further studies of sleep on social cognition and emotion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandra Tamm
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden. .,Stress Research Institute, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden.
| | - Gustav Nilsonne
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.,Stress Research Institute, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Johanna Schwarz
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.,Stress Research Institute, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Claus Lamm
- Social, Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience Unit, Department of Basic Psychological Research and Research Methods, Faculty of Psychology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Göran Kecklund
- Stress Research Institute, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden.,Behavioural Science Institute, Radboud Universiteit, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | - Predrag Petrovic
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Håkan Fischer
- Department of Psychology, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Torbjörn Åkerstedt
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.,Stress Research Institute, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Mats Lekander
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.,Stress Research Institute, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
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The role of empathy in the neural responses to observed human social touch. COGNITIVE AFFECTIVE & BEHAVIORAL NEUROSCIENCE 2017; 16:802-13. [PMID: 27165338 DOI: 10.3758/s13415-016-0432-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
One of the ways in which individuals convey feelings and thoughts to one another is through touch. Although the neural responses to felt and observed tactile stimuli between an inanimate object and a part of the human body have been vastly explored, the neural responses to observed human interaction involving touch are not well understood. Considering that the observation of social touch involves vicarious sharing of emotions, we hypothesized that levels of empathic traits modulate the neural responses to observed touch and focused on the attenuation in the mu\alpha rhythm (8-13Hz), a neural marker that has been related to sensorimotor resonance. Fifty-four participants observed photos depicting social touch, nonsocial touch, or no touch while their electroencephalography (EEG) activity was recorded. Results showed that interindividual differences in levels of empathic traits modulated both behavioral and electrophysiological responses to human social touch, such that highly empathic participants evaluated human social touch as inducing more pleasant emotions and exhibited greater mu suppression upon observation of human social touch compared to less empathic participants. Specifically, both the behavioral and the electrophysiological responses to observed social touch were predicted by levels of personal distress, a measure of emotional contagion. These findings indicate that the behavioral and electrophysiological responses to observed social touch are modulated by levels of empathy.
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Zazulak J, Sanaee M, Frolic A, Knibb N, Tesluk E, Hughes E, Grierson LEM. The art of medicine: arts-based training in observation and mindfulness for fostering the empathic response in medical residents. MEDICAL HUMANITIES 2017; 43:192-198. [PMID: 28450412 DOI: 10.1136/medhum-2016-011180] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/13/2017] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
Empathy is an essential attribute for medical professionals. Yet, evidence indicates that medical learners' empathy levels decline dramatically during medical school. Training in evidence-based observation and mindfulness has the potential to bolster the acquisition and demonstration of empathic behaviours for medical learners. In this prospective cohort study, we explore the impact of a course in arts-based visual literacy and mindfulness practice (Art of Seeing) on the empathic response of medical residents engaged in obstetrics and gynaecology and family medicine training. Following this multifaceted arts-based programme that integrates the facilitated viewing of art and dance, art-making, and mindfulness-based practices into a practitioner-patient context, 15 resident trainees completed the previously validated Interpersonal Reactivity Index, Compassion, and Mindfulness Scales. Fourteen participants also participated in semistructured interviews that probed their perceived impacts of the programme on their empathic clinical practice. The results indicated that programme participants improved in the Mindfulness Scale domains related to self-confidence and communication relative to a group of control participants following the arts-based programme. However, the majority of the psychometric measures did not reveal differences between groups over the duration of the programme. Importantly, thematic qualitative analysis of the interview data revealed that the programme had a positive impact on the participants' perceived empathy towards colleagues and patients and on the perception of personal and professional well-being. The study concludes that a multifaceted arts-based curriculum focusing on evidence-based observation and mindfulness is a useful tool in bolstering the empathic response, improving communication, and fostering professional well-being among medical residents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joyce Zazulak
- Department of Family Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, USA
| | - May Sanaee
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, USA
| | - Andrea Frolic
- Department of Anthropology, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, USA
- Office of Clinical and Organizational Ethics, Hamilton Health Sciences, Hamilton, Ontario, USA
| | - Nicole Knibb
- McMaster Museum of Art, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, USA
| | - Eve Tesluk
- Department of Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, USA
| | - Edward Hughes
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, USA
| | - Lawrence E M Grierson
- Department of Family Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, USA
- Program for Educational Research and Development, Faculty of Health Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, USA
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Ferri P, Rovesti S, Panzera N, Marcheselli L, Bari A, Di Lorenzo R. Empathic attitudes among nursing students: a preliminary study. ACTA BIO-MEDICA : ATENEI PARMENSIS 2017; 88:22-30. [PMID: 28752829 DOI: 10.23750/abm.v88i3 -s.6610] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2017] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIM An empathic approach is fundamental for therapeutic relationship between nurse and patient. According to some researchers, female nursing students show higher empathic attitude in comparison with males, but both show a decline in empathy level as their studies progress. This preliminary study evaluated the self-reported emotional empathy level among undergraduate students at first and second year of nursing 3-year course. METHOD To assess empathy level, the Balanced Emotional Empathy Scale (BEES) was administered to all students enrolled in the 2015/16 academic year (N=142), at the beginning of first year (T0) and at mid-point of second year (T1) of nursing course. Data were statistically analyzed. RESULTS 118 nursing students participated in the first and 99 in the second survey. The BEES global mean score for the longitudinal group (n=99) slightly decreased from T0 (mean=37.1±19.5 SD) to T1 (mean=33.5±22.6 SD) (t=1.20, p=0.23; t-test for paired data). Female students reported a statistically significant higher mean BEES score compared to male students in both surveys. CONCLUSIONS Our preliminary data suggest a slight decline in empathy level among nursing students with the progress of study course, in accordance with previous studies. In particular, our study shows higher levels of empathy in female students and lower levels in male students, compared to other studies. Further surveys aimed at investigating the empathy attitude at the end of nursing course could confirm the decline tendency reported by this preliminary study. Other research focusing on the causes of empathy decline are necessary to explain this phenomenon.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paola Ferri
- Department of Diagnostic, Clinical and Public Health Medicine, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia.
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van Vliet M, Jong M, Jong MC. Long-term benefits by a mind-body medicine skills course on perceived stress and empathy among medical and nursing students. MEDICAL TEACHER 2017; 39:710-719. [PMID: 28395570 DOI: 10.1080/0142159x.2017.1309374] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND A significant number of medical students suffer from burnout symptoms and reduced empathy. This controlled, quasi-experimental study aimed to investigate whether a mind-body medicine (MBM) skills course could reduce perceived stress and increase empathy and self-reflection in medical and nursing students. METHODS The MBM course (consisting of experiential sessions of mind-body techniques and group reflections) was piloted among Dutch medical students and Swedish nursing students. Main outcome variables were perceived stress (PSS), empathy (IRI subscales perspective taking, fantasy, empathic concern, and personal distress), and self-reflection (GRAS). Participating and control students completed questionnaires at baseline, post-intervention, at 6 and 12 months follow-up. RESULTS Seventy-four medical and 47 nursing students participated in the course. Participating medical students showed significantly increased empathic concern [1.42 (95% CI 0.05, 2.78), p = 0.042], increased fantasy [3.24 (95% CI 1.58, 4.90), p < 0.001], and decreased personal distress [-1.73 (95% CI -3.04, -0.35), p = 0.010] compared to controls until 12 months follow-up. Participating nursing students showed significantly decreased levels of perceived stress [-5.09 (95% CI -8.37, -1.82), p = 0.002] and decreased personal distress [-5.01 (95% CI -6.97, -3.06), p < 0.001] compared to controls until 12 months follow-up. CONCLUSIONS This study demonstrated long-term beneficial effects of the MBM course on perceived stress and empathy in medical and nursing students.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marja van Vliet
- a Department of Healthcare and Nutrition , Louis Bolk Institute , Driebergen , the Netherlands
- b Department of Health Sciences , Mid Sweden University , Sundsvall , Sweden
| | - Mats Jong
- c Department of Nursing Sciences , Mid Sweden University , Sundsvall , Sweden
| | - Miek C Jong
- a Department of Healthcare and Nutrition , Louis Bolk Institute , Driebergen , the Netherlands
- b Department of Health Sciences , Mid Sweden University , Sundsvall , Sweden
- d National Information and Knowledge Center Integrative Medicine (NIKIM) , Amsterdam , the Netherlands
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Overgaauw S, Rieffe C, Broekhof E, Crone EA, Güroğlu B. Assessing Empathy across Childhood and Adolescence: Validation of the Empathy Questionnaire for Children and Adolescents (EmQue-CA). Front Psychol 2017; 8:870. [PMID: 28611713 PMCID: PMC5447078 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2017.00870] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2016] [Accepted: 05/11/2017] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Empathy plays a crucial role in healthy social functioning and in maintaining positive social relationships. In this study, 1250 children and adolescents (10-15 year olds) completed the newly developed Empathy Questionnaire for Children and Adolescents (EmQue-CA) that was tested on reliability, construct validity, convergent validity, and concurrent validity. The EmQue-CA aims to assess empathy using the following scales: affective empathy, cognitive empathy, and intention to comfort. A Principal Components Analysis, which was directly tested with a Confirmatory Factor Analysis, confirmed the proposed three-factor model resulting in 14 final items. Reliability analyses demonstrated high internal consistency of the scales. Furthermore, the scales showed high convergent validity, as they were positively correlated with related scales of the Interpersonal Reactivity Index (Davis, 1983). With regard to concurrent validity, higher empathy was related to more attention to others' emotions, higher friendship quality, less focus on own affective state, and lower levels of bullying behavior. Taken together, we show that the EmQue-CA is a reliable and valid instrument to measure empathy in typically developing children and adolescents aged 10 and older.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandy Overgaauw
- Institute of Psychology, Leiden UniversityLeiden, Netherlands.,Leiden Institute for Brain and CognitionLeiden, Netherlands
| | - Carolien Rieffe
- Institute of Psychology, Leiden UniversityLeiden, Netherlands
| | | | - Eveline A Crone
- Institute of Psychology, Leiden UniversityLeiden, Netherlands.,Leiden Institute for Brain and CognitionLeiden, Netherlands
| | - Berna Güroğlu
- Institute of Psychology, Leiden UniversityLeiden, Netherlands.,Leiden Institute for Brain and CognitionLeiden, Netherlands
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BAYNE HANNAHB, HAYS DANICAG. Examining Conditions for Empathy in Counseling: An Exploratory Model. THE JOURNAL OF HUMANISTIC COUNSELING 2017. [DOI: 10.1002/johc.12043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- HANNAH B. BAYNE
- Department of Pastoral Counseling; Loyola University Maryland
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Shdo SM, Ranasinghe KG, Gola KA, Mielke CJ, Sukhanov PV, Miller BL, Rankin KP. Deconstructing empathy: Neuroanatomical dissociations between affect sharing and prosocial motivation using a patient lesion model. Neuropsychologia 2017; 116:126-135. [PMID: 28209520 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2017.02.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2016] [Revised: 02/11/2017] [Accepted: 02/11/2017] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
Affect sharing and prosocial motivation are integral parts of empathy that are conceptually and mechanistically distinct. We used a neurodegenerative disease (NDG) lesion model to examine the neural correlates of these two aspects of real-world empathic responding. The study enrolled 275 participants, including 44 healthy older controls and 231 patients diagnosed with one of five neurodegenerative diseases (75 Alzheimer's disease, 58 behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia (bvFTD), 42 semantic variant primary progressive aphasia (svPPA), 28 progressive supranuclear palsy, and 28 non-fluent variant primary progressive aphasia (nfvPPA). Informants completed the Revised Self-Monitoring Scale's Sensitivity to the Expressive Behavior of Others (RSMS-EX) subscale and the Interpersonal Reactivity Index's Empathic Concern (IRI-EC) subscale describing the typical empathic behavior of the participants in daily life. Using regression modeling of the voxel based morphometry of T1 brain scans prepared using SPM8 DARTEL-based preprocessing, we isolated the variance independently contributed by the affect sharing and the prosocial motivation elements of empathy as differentially measured by the two scales. We found that the affect sharing component uniquely correlated with volume in right>left medial and lateral temporal lobe structures, including the amygdala and insula, that support emotion recognition, emotion generation, and emotional awareness. Prosocial motivation, in contrast, involved structures such as the nucleus accumbens (NaCC), caudate head, and inferior frontal gyrus (IFG), which suggests that an individual must maintain the capacity to experience reward, to resolve ambiguity, and to inhibit their own emotional experience in order to effectively engage in spontaneous altruism as a component of their empathic response to others.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suzanne M Shdo
- Memory and Aging Center, University of California, San Francisco, USA
| | | | - Kelly A Gola
- Memory and Aging Center, University of California, San Francisco, USA
| | - Clinton J Mielke
- Memory and Aging Center, University of California, San Francisco, USA
| | - Paul V Sukhanov
- Memory and Aging Center, University of California, San Francisco, USA
| | - Bruce L Miller
- Memory and Aging Center, University of California, San Francisco, USA
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Sörman K, Nilsonne G, Howner K, Tamm S, Caman S, Wang HX, Ingvar M, Edens JF, Gustavsson P, Lilienfeld SO, Petrovic P, Fischer H, Kristiansson M. Reliability and Construct Validity of the Psychopathic Personality Inventory-Revised in a Swedish Non-Criminal Sample - A Multimethod Approach including Psychophysiological Correlates of Empathy for Pain. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0156570. [PMID: 27300292 PMCID: PMC4907435 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0156570] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2015] [Accepted: 05/17/2016] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Cross-cultural investigation of psychopathy measures is important for clarifying the nomological network surrounding the psychopathy construct. The Psychopathic Personality Inventory-Revised (PPI-R) is one of the most extensively researched self-report measures of psychopathic traits in adults. To date however, it has been examined primarily in North American criminal or student samples. To address this gap in the literature, we examined PPI-R's reliability, construct validity and factor structure in non-criminal individuals (N = 227) in Sweden, using a multimethod approach including psychophysiological correlates of empathy for pain. PPI-R construct validity was investigated in subgroups of participants by exploring its degree of overlap with (i) the Psychopathy Checklist: Screening Version (PCL:SV), (ii) self-rated empathy and behavioral and physiological responses in an experiment on empathy for pain, and (iii) additional self-report measures of alexithymia and trait anxiety. The PPI-R total score was significantly associated with PCL:SV total and factor scores. The PPI-R Coldheartedness scale demonstrated significant negative associations with all empathy subscales and with rated unpleasantness and skin conductance responses in the empathy experiment. The PPI-R higher order Self-Centered Impulsivity and Fearless Dominance dimensions were associated with trait anxiety in opposite directions (positively and negatively, respectively). Overall, the results demonstrated solid reliability (test-retest and internal consistency) and promising but somewhat mixed construct validity for the Swedish translation of the PPI-R.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karolina Sörman
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, SE-171 77, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Gustav Nilsonne
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, SE-171 77, Stockholm, Sweden
- Stress Research Institute, Stockholm University, SE-106 91, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Katarina Howner
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, SE-171 77, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Sandra Tamm
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, SE-171 77, Stockholm, Sweden
- Stress Research Institute, Stockholm University, SE-106 91, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Shilan Caman
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, SE-171 77, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Hui-Xin Wang
- Aging Research Center, Karolinska Institutet and Stockholm University, SE-113 30, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Martin Ingvar
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, SE-171 77, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - John F. Edens
- Department of Psychology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 77843, United States of America
| | - Petter Gustavsson
- Department of Psychology, Karolinska Institutet, SE-171 77, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Scott O Lilienfeld
- Department of Psychology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, 30322, United States of America
| | - Predrag Petrovic
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, SE-171 77, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Håkan Fischer
- Department of Psychology, Stockholm University, SE-106 91, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Marianne Kristiansson
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, SE-171 77, Stockholm, Sweden
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Leppma M, Young ME. Loving-Kindness Meditation and Empathy: A Wellness Group Intervention for Counseling Students. JOURNAL OF COUNSELING AND DEVELOPMENT 2016. [DOI: 10.1002/jcad.12086] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Monica Leppma
- Department of Counseling, Rehabilitation Counseling, and Counseling Psychology; West Virginia University
| | - Mark E. Young
- Department of Child, Family, and Community Sciences; University of Central Florida; Orlando
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Kahriman I, Nural N, Arslan U, Topbas M, Can G, Kasim S. The Effect of Empathy Training on the Empathic Skills of Nurses. IRANIAN RED CRESCENT MEDICAL JOURNAL 2016; 18:e24847. [PMID: 27621922 PMCID: PMC5002343 DOI: 10.5812/ircmj.24847] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2014] [Revised: 12/17/2014] [Accepted: 01/02/2015] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Background The profound impact of empathy training on quality nursing care has been recognized. Studies have shown that there has been little improvement in nurses’ communication skills, and that they should work to enhance this area. Relevant training will lead to an improvement in nurses’ empathic skills, which in turn, will enable them to understand their patients better, establish positive interpersonal relationships with them, and boost their professional satisfaction. Objectives To reveal the effect of empathy training on the empathic skills of nurses. Patients and Methods This study was conducted as an experimental design. The research sample consisted of 48 nurses working at the pediatric clinics of Farabi hospital of Karadeniz Technical University in Turkey (N = 83). Two groups, an experimental group (group 1) and a control group (group 2) were determined after questionnaires were supplied to all nurses in the study sample. At first, it was intended to select these groups using a random method. However, since this may have meant that the experimental and control groups were formed from nurses working in the same service, the two groups were selected from different services to avoid possible interaction between them. The nurses in the Group 1 were provided with empathy training through group and creative drama techniques. Pre-tests and post-tests were conducted on both groups. Data was collected via a questionnaire designed around the topic “empathic skill scale-ESS”, developed by Dokmen. The Kolmogorov Smirnov test was employed to assess whether the measurable data was suitable for normal distribution. Data was presented as numbers and percentage distributions, as mean ± standard deviation and Chi-square, and as student t tests and paired t tests. The level of significance was accepted as P < 0.05. Results The nurses in the experimental group had a mean score of 146.7 ± 38.8 and 169.5 ± 22.1 in the ESS pre-test and post-test, respectively. Although the nurses in the control group had a pre-test mean score of 133.7 ± 37.1, which increased to 135.1 ± 51.7 after the training, no statistically significant difference was found (P = 0.886). A comparison of the groups indicated that they scored similarly in the pre-test. However, the experimental group scored significantly higher than the control group in the post-test (P = 0.270 and P = 0.015, respectively). Conclusions In the light of these findings, it is recommended that communication skills should be widely included in in-service training programs; similar studies should be conducted on broader control groups formed through randomization; and a comparison should be made between the findings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ilknur Kahriman
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Karadeniz Technical University, Trabzon, Turkey
- Corresponding Author: Ilknur Kahriman, Faculty of Health Sciences, Karadeniz Technical University, Eczacilik Fakulte Binasi, Universite Binasi, Farabi Cad 61080 Trabzon, Turkey. Tel: +90-4622300476, Fax: +90-4622300475, E-mail:
| | - Nesrin Nural
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Karadeniz Technical University, Trabzon, Turkey
| | - Umit Arslan
- Pre-School Education Division, Department of Primary Education, Faculty of Education, Karadeniz Technical University, Trabzon, Turkey
| | - Murat Topbas
- Department of Public Health, Farabi Hospital, Medicine Faculty, Karadeniz Technical University, Trabzon, Turkey
| | - Gamze Can
- Department of Public Health, Farabi Hospital, Medicine Faculty, Karadeniz Technical University, Trabzon, Turkey
| | - Suheyla Kasim
- The Top Management of Nursing, Farabi Hospital, Karadeniz Technical University, Trabzon, Turkey
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Articulating ideology: How liberals and conservatives justify political affiliations using morality-based explanations. MOTIVATION AND EMOTION 2016. [DOI: 10.1007/s11031-016-9563-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
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Ingoglia S, Lo Coco A, Albiero P. Development of a Brief Form of the Interpersonal Reactivity Index (B–IRI). J Pers Assess 2016; 98:461-71. [DOI: 10.1080/00223891.2016.1149858] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
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Braun S, Rosseel Y, Kempenaers C, Loas G, Linkowski P. SELF-REPORT OF EMPATHY: A SHORTENED FRENCH ADAPTATION OF THE INTERPERSONAL REACTIVITY INDEX (IRI) USING TWO LARGE BELGIAN SAMPLES. Psychol Rep 2015; 117:735-53. [PMID: 26595295 DOI: 10.2466/08.02.pr0.117c23z6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
For more than 30 years, the Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI) has been used to measure the multidimensional aspects of empathy. But the 28-item, 4-factor model of Davis (1980 ) is currently contested because of methodological issues and for theoretical reasons. Confirmatory (CFA) and exploratory factor analyses (EFA) were applied in two French-speaking Belgian student samples (1,244 participants in the first and 729 in the second study) to test this model and to propose a shortened version. A non-optimal fit was found with respect to the CFI value (Study 1). By splitting the student group into two random subsamples, EFA and then CFA were used to propose a 15-item, 4-factor model with good fit indices. A CFA on the second student group (Study 2) replicated this model. Results are discussed considering the influence of social desirability response bias, an absence of strong invariance across sex and the usefulness of self-report scales to measure empathy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stéphanie Braun
- 1 Department of Psychiatry, Erasmus Hospital, Free University of Brussels, Belgium
| | - Yves Rosseel
- 2 Department of Data Analysis, Ghent University, Belgium
| | - Chantal Kempenaers
- 1 Department of Psychiatry, Erasmus Hospital, Free University of Brussels, Belgium
| | - Gwenole Loas
- 1 Department of Psychiatry, Erasmus Hospital, Free University of Brussels, Belgium
| | - Paul Linkowski
- 1 Department of Psychiatry, Erasmus Hospital, Free University of Brussels, Belgium
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Li X, Bian C, Chen Y, Huang J, Ma Y, Tang L, Yan Q, Ye X, Tang J, Yu Y. Indirect aggression and parental attachment in early adolescence: Examining the role of perspective taking and empathetic concern. PERSONALITY AND INDIVIDUAL DIFFERENCES 2015. [DOI: 10.1016/j.paid.2015.07.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
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Pernigo S, Gambina G, Valbusa V, Condoleo MT, Broggio E, Beltramello A, Moretto G, Moro V. Behavioral and neural correlates of visual emotion discrimination and empathy in mild cognitive impairment. Behav Brain Res 2015. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2015.07.047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
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van der Hulst EJ, Bak TH, Abrahams S. Impaired affective and cognitive theory of mind and behavioural change in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 2015; 86:1208-15. [PMID: 25476003 DOI: 10.1136/jnnp-2014-309290] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2014] [Accepted: 11/13/2014] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Executive and behavioural changes are well-recognised in classical amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), indicating a subclinical behavioural-variant frontotemporal dementia (bvFTD) in some patients. Social cognitive deficits in ALS have been recently described and an impairment was identified on a simple Theory of Mind (ToM) test, which assesses the judgement of the preference of another through direction of eye gaze. The present study further delineated this deficit, by distinguishing between Affective and Cognitive subcomponents, and determining the relationship to behavioural change, levels of empathy and self-awareness. METHODS The Cognitive-Affective Judgement of Preference Test was administered to 33 patients with ALS and 26 controls. Furthermore, a comprehensive neuropsychological battery and detailed behavioural assessment, with measures of empathy and awareness, were included. RESULTS Patients with ALS showed a significant impairment in Affective ToM only when compared with healthy controls, with a deficit in 36% of patients; 12% showed an isolated Affective ToM deficit while 24% showed more generic ToM dysfunction. A Cognitive ToM deficit was found in 27% of patients, with 3% showing an isolated Cognitive ToM deficit. The patients with ALS showed reduced empathy (Fantasy scale) and increased behavioural dysfunction with high levels of apathy. In addition, patients with either an Affective and/or Cognitive ToM deficit exhibited poor self-awareness of their performance and abnormalities on verbal fluency, while those with an Affective ToM deficit also displayed higher levels of apathy and a naming deficit. CONCLUSIONS Dysfunctional ToM is a prominent feature of the cognitive profile of ALS. This specific difficulty in identifying and distinguishing the feelings and thoughts of another from a self-perspective may underpin the social behavioural abnormalities present in some patients with ALS, manifest as apathy and loss of awareness.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Thomas H Bak
- Human Cognitive Neuroscience-Psychology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK Euan MacDonald Centre for Motor Neurone Disease Research, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK Centre for Cognitive Aging and Epidemiology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK Anne Rowling Regenerative Neurology Clinic, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Sharon Abrahams
- Human Cognitive Neuroscience-Psychology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK Euan MacDonald Centre for Motor Neurone Disease Research, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK Centre for Cognitive Aging and Epidemiology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK Anne Rowling Regenerative Neurology Clinic, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
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Chrysikou EG, Thompson WJ. Assessing Cognitive and Affective Empathy Through the Interpersonal Reactivity Index: An Argument Against a Two-Factor Model. Assessment 2015; 23:769-777. [PMID: 26253573 DOI: 10.1177/1073191115599055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
One aspect of higher order social cognition is empathy, a psychological construct comprising a cognitive (recognizing emotions) and an affective (responding to emotions) component. The complex nature of empathy complicates the accurate measurement of these components. The most widely used measure of empathy is the Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI). However, the factor structure of the IRI as it is predominantly used in the psychological literature differs from Davis's original four-factor model in that it arbitrarily combines the subscales to form two factors: cognitive and affective empathy. This two-factor model of the IRI, although popular, has yet to be examined for psychometric support. In the current study, we examine, for the first time, the validity of this alternative model. A confirmatory factor analysis showed poor model fit for this two-factor structure. Additional analyses offered support for the original four-factor model, as well as a hierarchical model for the scale. In line with previous findings, females scored higher on the IRI than males. Our findings indicate that the IRI, as it is currently used in the literature, does not accurately measure cognitive and affective empathy and highlight the advantages of using the original four-factor structure of the scale for empathy assessments.
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Koller I, Lamm C. Item Response Model Investigation of the (German) Interpersonal Reactivity Index Empathy Questionnaire. EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT 2015. [DOI: 10.1027/1015-5759/a000227] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Abstract. The interpersonal reactivity index (IRI) is a widely used personality questionnaire for measuring empathy. We investigated the psychometric properties of the German version using the partial credit model. If this model fits the data, the raw-scores are fair measures of the latent construct. Only in such a case, further analyses based on the raw-scores are accurate and valid. The results showed model fit only for the subscale empathic concern. The subscales perspective taking and fantasy consisted of two theoretically explainable sub-dimensions. For the subscale personal distress, no model fit could be achieved. Our study provides important information on the psychometric qualities of the IRI that has been repeatedly used to assess, for example, group differences. It demonstrates that these analyses were not warranted by the psychometric quality of the questionnaire. Our results provide direct suggestions (e.g., theoretically explainable sub-dimensions) for further developments of the IRI to overcome this limitation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ingrid Koller
- Department of Basic Psychological Research and Research Methods, University of Vienna, Austria
| | - Claus Lamm
- Department of Basic Psychological Research and Research Methods, University of Vienna, Austria
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