W. Litvackmiller et al., THE STRUCTURE OF EMPATHY DURING MIDDLE CHILDHOOD AND ITS RELATIONSHIPTO PROSOCIAL BEHAVIOR, Genetic, social, and general psychology monographs, 123(3), 1997, pp. 303-324
This study was an investigation of the structure and development of di
spositional empathy during middle childhood and its relationship to al
truism. A sample of 478 students from 2nd, 4th, and 6th grades complet
ed an altruism questionnaire and a social desirability scale, both cre
ated for this study, and the Interpersonal Reactivity Index (Davis, 19
80), adapted for this study. Teachers also rated the students on proso
cial behaviors, such as sharing. In addition, as an experimental part
of the study, the children could make monetary donations and volunteer
time to raise funds. Results of a confirmatory factor analysis on the
Interpersonal Reactivity Index supported Davis's (1980) findings that
empathy comprises four components: perspective taking, fantasy, empat
hic concern, and personal distress. Factor intercorrelations, however,
were not the same as those reported by Davis. MANOVAs were used to ex
amine gender and age effects on empathy. Girls were more empathic in g
eneral than boys, and older children showed more empathic concern than
younger children. Only empathic concern and perspective taking were s
ignificant predictors of prosocial behavior.