Greater Empathic Concern Research Articles

Empathy and support exchanges in couples coping with early-stage Alzheimer’s disease

Objectives Research has extensively examined spousal caregiving in Alzheimer’s disease (AD), but it remains unclear how people with AD help spousal caregivers. We aimed to describe emotional and practical support that people with AD and their spouses provide to each other and test the role their empathy plays in these support experiences. Methods Seventy-two people with early-stage AD and their spousal caregivers independently reported empathy (personal distress, empathic concern, perspective taking) and the frequency and appraisal of support provision. Caregivers reported both partners’ sociodemographic characteristics. Results People with early-stage AD and their spousal caregivers provided support to each other often. Caregivers provided more support but people with AD appraised support provision as more pleasant and less stressful. Lower personal distress in both partners and greater caregiver empathic concern were associated with more frequent caregiver support to people with AD. Greater empathic concern and perspective taking were associated with more pleasant appraisals of helping. Personal distress was positively associated with stress of helping. Conclusion Findings describe support reciprocity in early-stage AD and debunk the myth of people with AD being only recipients of care. We identify risk and resilience in couples per empathy and inform the design of dyadic interventions to promote mutually beneficial relationships in AD.

Neural correlates of perceptual switching and their association with empathy and alexithymia in individuals with and without autism spectrum disorder

Individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) often show limited empathy (poor recognition of others’ emotions) and high alexithymia (poor recognition of own emotions and external thinking), which can negatively impact their social functioning. Previous experimental studies suggest that alterations in cognitive flexibility play key roles in the development of these characteristics in ASD. However, the underlying neural mechanisms that link cognitive flexibility and empathy/alexithymia are still largely unknown. In this study, we examined the neural correlates of cognitive flexibility via functional magnetic resonance imaging during perceptual task-switching in typical development (TD) adults and adults with ASD. We also investigated associations between regional neural activity and psychometric empathy and alexithymia scores among these populations. In the TD group, stronger activation of the left middle frontal gyrus was associated with better perceptual switching and greater empathic concern. Among individuals with ASD, stronger activation of the left inferior frontal gyrus was associated with better perceptual switching, greater empathy, and lower alexithymia. These findings will contribute to develop a better understanding of social cognition, and could be informative for the development of new ASD therapies.

Personality and mentalization: A latent profile analysis of mentalizing problematics in adult patients.

The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between patients' mentalizing problematics and their personality; specifically, it aimed to identify clusters of individuals characterized by specific patterns of mentalizing imbalances and to analyze the relationship between these and diagnosis of personality disorder (PD), nonmentalizing modes, emotion dysregulation, and interpersonal reactivity. Four hundred therapeutic dyads were recruited. A part of these (n = 183) only completed clinician-report measures, Mentalization Imbalances Scale, and Modes of Mentalization Scale,while others (n = 217) also completed patients' self-report measures, which were Reflective Functioning Questionnaire,Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale,and Interpersonal Reactivity Index. A latent profile analysis enlightened the presence of four clusters with problematics in the dimensions of mentalization, indicated by cluster names: (1) Affective-self-automatic profile (ASA-P) (with higher percentage ofPDs);(2) External profile (E-P) (with lower percentage of PDs); (3) Others-automatic-affective profile (OAA-P); (4) Cognitive-self-automatic profile (CSA-P). Multivariate analysis of variances confirmed that the four clusters differed in relation to the quality of mentalization, emotional dysregulation and interpersonal reactivity, with higher levels of nonmentalization modes, uncertainty about mental states and emotion dysregulation in ASA-P, higher levels of good mentalization in E-P, lower impulsivity in CSA-P, and greater empathic concern in OAA-P.

Empathy and its associations with age and sociodemographic characteristics in a large UK population sample.

Empathy is fundamental to social cognition, driving prosocial behaviour and mental health but associations with aging and other socio-demographic characteristics are unclear. We therefore aimed to characterise associations of these characteristics with two main self-reported components of empathy, namely empathic-concern (feeling compassion) and perspective-taking (understanding others' perspective). We asked participants in an internet-based survey of UK-dwelling adults aged ≥18 years to complete the Interpersonal Reactivity Index subscales measuring empathic concern and perspective taking, and sociodemographic and personality questionnaires. We weighted the sample to be UK population representative and employed multivariable weighted linear regression models. In 30,033 respondents, mean empathic concern score was 3.86 (95% confidence interval 3.85, 3.88) and perspective taking was 3.57 (3.56. 3.59); the correlation between these sub-scores was 0.45 (p < 0.001). Empathic concern and perspective taking followed an inverse-u shape trajectory in women with peak between 40 and 50 years whereas in men, perspective taking declines with age but empathic concern increases. In fully adjusted models, greater empathic concern was associated with female gender, non-white ethnicity, having more education, working in health, social-care, or childcare professions, and having higher neuroticism, extroversion, openness to experience and agreeableness traits. Perspective taking was associated with younger age, female gender, more education, employment in health or social-care, neuroticism, openness, and agreeableness. Empathic compassion and understanding are distinct dimensions of empathy with differential demographic associations. Perspective taking may decline due to cognitive inflexibility with older age whereas empathic concern increases in older men suggesting it is socially-driven.

The association between empathy and the nurse–patient therapeutic relationship in mental health units: a cross‐sectional study

WHAT IS KNOWN ON THE SUBJECT?: Empathy is one of the main attributes for establishing the nurse-patient therapeutic relationship. Davis (1983) identified four components on an empathic response: perspective taking, fantasy, empathetic concern and personal distress. It is essential to deepen our knowledge on the influence of the dimensions of empathy for the construction and development of the therapeutic alliance during the different phases of the therapeutic relationship. WHAT THE PAPER ADDS TO EXISTING KNOWLEDGE?: A significant association exists between the dimensions of empathy and the construction and development of the therapeutic alliance during the different phases of the therapeutic relationship between nurses and patients in mental health units. This study shows that the nurses' perspective on the patient's situation improves the bond, and therefore, this skill is especially useful in the first phase or orientation phase of the therapeutic relationship. However, for the second phase or working phase of the therapeutic relationship, a greater empathic concern among nurses, together with less personal distress, improves collaborative goal setting with patients. WHAT ARE THE IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE?: It is important for mental health nurses to be aware of the importance of personal self-awareness and the emotional management of empathy for the construction and development of therapeutic relationships of quality with patients. Knowledge of the relationship between each of the dimensions of empathy in the different stages of the therapeutic relationship is useful for the design of educational programmes, by including training on empathic strategies. ABSTRACT: Introduction Empathy and its dimensions (perspective taking, empathic concern, personal distress and fantasy) are essential for establishing the nurse-patient therapeutic relationship. It is important to know how this influences the construction and development of the therapeutic alliance during the different phases of the therapeutic relationship. Aim To examine whether the dimensions of empathy influence the nurse-patient therapeutic relationship within mental health units. Method A cross-sectional design was used to collect data to measure the therapeutic alliance and the different dimensions of empathy via an online form completed by nurses working at 18 mental health units. Linear regressions were used in the analysis. Results A total of 198 participants completed the questionnaires. Nurses established a greater therapeutic alliance with patients when they were able to adopt their patient's perspective and experience concern. Discussion Nurses' perspective taking is an influential factor impacting the nurse-patient bond in the orientation phase, whereas experiencing greater concern and decreased emotional distress were associated with improved therapeutic alliance in the working phase. Implications for practice These findings may help gain awareness among nurses of the importance of empathy in the nurse-patient relationships, as well as inform educational programmes, by including training in empathic strategies and emotional management.

Clarifying the relationship between trait empathy and action-based resonance indexed by EEG mu-rhythm suppression

Sensorimotor resonance, the vicarious activation of the sensory motor system during observation of another's actions, is thought to contribute to important social functions including empathy. Previous research has shown that sensorimotor resonance, as measured by suppression of the electrophysiological (EEG) mu rhythm, is predicted by trait empathy, but findings are inconsistent. Here we report data from a high-powered study (N = 252) to clarify the relationship between sensorimotor resonance as indexed by mu suppression during action observation and trait empathy as measured by the well-established Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI). Our initial pre-registered analyses at central electrode locations indicate that sensorimotor resonance is unrelated to general trait empathy or its sub-facets, however, these effects could not be isolated from attention-related occipital alpha. An additional non-registered analysis using Independent Component Analysis (ICA) to look at the isolated central mu-component clarified the relationship. Results confirmed the lack of a relationship between the mu-component and the perspective taking, personal distress, or fantasy facets of the IRI, but suggest a possible association with empathic concern such that greater resonance is associated with greater empathic concern. These results question the previously assumed relationship between trait empathy and sensorimotor resonance and highlight the need to investigate experience sharing tendencies in the context of simulation-based resonance.

Associations between learning community engagement and burnout, quality of life, and empathy among medical students.

ObjectivesTo inform evidence-based design and implementation of medical school learning communities (LCs) by investigating which LC components medical students at one school with a multi-component LC were most valued and which were associated with desirable outcomes. MethodsIn this cross-sectional study, all Johns Hopkins School of Medicine (JHSOM) students were surveyed in Spring 2016 regarding perceived value of LC components (peers, faculty advisors, Clinical Foundations of Medicine (CFM) clinical skills course, quarterly reflective discussion sessions, social activities, and LC rooms) with learning environment (LE) perceptions, quality of life, burnout, and empathy assessed as outcomes. Multivariate logistic regressions analyzed associations between LC components and outcomes. ResultsOverall 368/480 (77%) students responded. CFM was highly valued by 286 (80%) students, advisors by 277 (75%). All LC components were significantly associated with favorable overall LE perceptions, but associations with LE subdomains varied. CFM was the only LC component to have significant associations with greater empathic concern (OR 2.1, 95% CI=1.2-3.7) and perspective-taking (OR 1.8, 95% CI=1.0-3.1), less emotional exhaustion (OR 0.4, 95% CI=0.2-0.6) and depersonalization (OR 0.3, 95% CI=0.1-0.5), and good quality of life (OR 3.7, 95% CI=1.9-7.1). Every other LC component, except LC rooms, was associated with greater empathy or enhanced well-being. ConclusionsComponents within an LC are valued differently and vary in their relationships with student outcomes. Future LC research may isolate the effects of and explore interactions among different LC components, leading to more purposeful LC design and allocation of resources.

Early Friendships: Does a Friend’s Presence in Daycare Promote Toddlers’ Prosocial Behavior Toward Peers?

The current study examined the effect of a friend’s presence on toddlers’ behavior in high child-to-staff-ratio daycare settings. Toddlers (N = 38) were video-observed in the presence or absence of a verified friend in two situations that burden staff: morning separation and lunchtime (overall, 152 video observations). Higher levels of positive social engagement, fewer agonistic behaviors toward peers, and fewer occurrences of distress were observed in the friend’s presence. The duration of morning separations decreased by half and toddlers contacted the caregiver less during separations and exhibited more prosocial behaviors. Overall, toddlers demonstrated greater empathic concern when their friend was present. During lunchtime, they also displayed greater concern toward peers other than their friend. Friendship, even at a very young age, can constitute a meaningful emotional resource for soothing and security.

No country for girly men: High instrumentality men express empathic concern when caring is “manly”

Two studies explored the relationship between men’s gender role identity (as measured by the Bem Sex Role Inventory) and their experience of empathic concern (situational empathy). In both, participants read of a man coping with his friend’s death while being exposed to one of three subliminal primes: “real men care”/“caring is strength,” “girly men care”/“caring is weakness,” or “people are walking.” Congruent with previous research, higher femininity (expressivity) predicted greater empathic concern irrespective of prime. The real men/strength primes tended to: (1) increase empathic concern among high instrumentality men; and (2) link empathic concern to predominantly positive projected coping responses when participants thought of themselves in the survivor’s situation, consistent with the broaden-and-build theory of positive emotions. Thus, subtly framing empathic concern as a positive emotional response that is congruent with an agentic self-appraisal seems to boost traditionally masculine men’s willingness to experience it.

Gifts of giving: The role of empathy and perceived benefits to others and self in young adults’ decisions to become organ donors

Trait empathy and self-interest exert a strong influence on different prosocial behaviors, but their role in the promotion of organ donation registration is unclear. A survey examined how perceived benefits of organ donation for others and the self affect people's willingness to register as donors. Perceived other-benefits did not predict registration. Those with lower risk and greater self-benefit perceptions were more willing to donate. Empathic concern predicted donation willingness and moderated the effect of other-benefit perceptions, such that other-benefit perceptions predicted donation willingness among those with greater empathic concern. Applications of these findings to organ donation promotion are discussed.

Adolescent Religious Motivation, Family Functioning, and Empathic Concern

Empathic concern, or the ability to understand the emotions of others, serves as a notable part of the foundation for adolescents' abilities to respond to others in a caring manner. This study provides empirical evidence that both aspects of adolescents' religious motivation and family functioning are potentially important areas for prevention and intervention associated with adolescent empathic concern. Self‐report questionnaire data from 248 adolescents were used to test how adolescents' reports of intrinsic and extrinsic religious motivation and family functioning were associated with empathic concern after controlling for gender, ethnicity, family form, and age. Results of the hierarchical multiple regression analysis showed that girls reported significantly greater empathic concern than boys, intrinsic religious motivation and family functioning were positively related to empathic concern, and extrinsic religious motivation was negatively associated with empathic concern. Implications of the findings for social workers are presented.

And Then They Came for Me: The Effectiveness of a Theatrical Performance and Study Guide on Middle-School Students' Holocaust Knowledge and Empathic Concern

The present study evaluated the effect of the theatrical performance, And Then They Came for Me, and a corresponding study guide (a) on students' knowledge of the Holocaust and (b) on their empathic concern for victims in general. Middle-school students (n = 106) participated in the study. A survey measured Holocaust knowledge and empathic concern. We assigned students to either: (a) a guide-play group; (b) a guide-only group; or (c) a control group. The results suggest that students exposed to the play and the study guide demonstrated a better understanding of the social lessons of the Holocaust, and greater empathic concern for suffering individuals in general.

Parent and Stepparent Support and Psychological Control in Remarried Families and Adolescent Empathic Concern

Using a symbolic interaction perspective, this study examined the extent to which (a) perceptions of parent/stepparent support were positively related to adolescent empathic concern and (b) perceptions of parent/stepparent psychological control mediated this relationship. Participants were a convenience sample of 72 ninth and tenth grade adolescents residing in remarried family households who completed self-report questionnaires. Results showed that adolescent girls in remarried family households who perceived their residential parent as more supportive reported greater empathic concern and that the relationship was mediated by perceptions of parent psychological control.