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Dispositional empathy in neglectful mothers and mothers at high risk for child physical abuse.
- Source :
-
Journal of interpersonal violence [J Interpers Violence] 2008 May; Vol. 23 (5), pp. 670-84. Date of Electronic Publication: 2008 Feb 08. - Publication Year :
- 2008
-
Abstract
- This study investigates whether mothers who are neglectful and at high risk for child physical abuse present a deficit in empathy. Participants were neglectful mothers (n=37), mothers at high risk for child physical abuse (n=22), and nonmaltreating mothers (n=37). The Interpersonal Reactivity Index, a self-report measure assessing specific dimensions of empathy, was used to assess dispositional empathy. No differences between neglectful and non-neglectful mothers were found for perspective taking, empathic concern, and personal distress. High-risk mothers reported less perspective taking and more personal distress than nonmaltreating mothers. No difference between groups was found for empathic concern. The present study supported the hypothesis that parents at high risk for child physical abuse show a deficit in particular aspects of dispositional empathy: personal distress and perspective taking. However, no differences were found between neglectful and nonmaltreating mothers in any dimension of dispositional empathy.
- Subjects :
- Adult
Child
Child Abuse statistics & numerical data
Female
Humans
Parent-Child Relations
Personality Inventory
Risk Assessment
Self-Assessment
Social Perception
Spain
Stress, Psychological psychology
Surveys and Questionnaires
Child Abuse psychology
Empathy
Mother-Child Relations
Mothers psychology
Self Concept
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 0886-2605
- Volume :
- 23
- Issue :
- 5
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- Journal of interpersonal violence
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 18263864
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1177/0886260507313532