Leiden University Student Repository

Diest, Anne van (2022)

Development of empathy: the role of parental sensitivity

Master thesis | Psychology (MSc)

Empathy is important for social, cognitive and emotional development in children. Therefore, it is of great value to know what might enhance this development. The current study was designed to examine the development of empathy in children. In addition, the influence of parental sensitivity on empathy (over time) was examined. Parental sensitivity is the ability of the caregiver to understand and respond in an adequate manner to the needs of the child. In this longitudinal study, children were tested with their primary parent for three years, starting when the children were 8 / 9 years old (T1: N = 155, T2: N = 129). Results show a stable level of empathy at the transition from 8 - 9 year olds to 9 - 10 year olds. A decrease was shown at the age of 10 - 11. No significant correlation or interaction over time was found between sensitive parenting and empathy. This indicates that an intervention aimed at enhancing parental sensitivity might not be necessary for the development of...Show moreEmpathy is important for social, cognitive and emotional development in children. Therefore, it is of great value to know what might enhance this development. The current study was designed to examine the development of empathy in children. In addition, the influence of parental sensitivity on empathy (over time) was examined. Parental sensitivity is the ability of the caregiver to understand and respond in an adequate manner to the needs of the child. In this longitudinal study, children were tested with their primary parent for three years, starting when the children were 8 / 9 years old (T1: N = 155, T2: N = 129). Results show a stable level of empathy at the transition from 8 - 9 year olds to 9 - 10 year olds. A decrease was shown at the age of 10 - 11. No significant correlation or interaction over time was found between sensitive parenting and empathy. This indicates that an intervention aimed at enhancing parental sensitivity might not be necessary for the development of higher levels of empathy. Future research should view the three different layers of empathy separately, to see if parental sensitivity has an influence on the different layers of empathy.Show less

Children, empathy, parental sensitivit

Author

Diest, Anne van

Faculty

Faculty of Social & Behavioural Sciences

Specialisation

Clinical child and adolescent psychology

Supervisors

Simone Dobbelaar

ECTS Credits

30

Language

en