The communication of empathy in couples during the transition to parenthood

This study examined how empathy is communicated and experienced in the help ing interactions of couples expecting their first baby. Eighteen couples to ok part in a semistructured communication task, and then, in a tape-assiste d recall session, identified helper responses that were high and low in emp athy. Qualitative data analysis yielded five themes characterizing high emp athy responses-checking out or exploring meaning, acknowledging the concern , articulating meaning or summarizing, offering solutions, and a mutual exp erience-and five themes characterizing low empathy responses-missing the po int, dismissing the concern, offering solutions, redirecting the conversati on and persuading. The findings suggest both similarities and differences b etween the communication of empathy in this population and existing theoret ical conceptions of empathy in psychological therapy. Implications for Prev entive interventions for couples are discussed. (C) 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.