Leiden University Student Repository

Mulder, Feline (2024)

De relatie tussen kindermishandeling en empathie en de mogelijk mediërende rol van ruminatie

Bachelor thesis | Psychologie (BSc)

Child abuse remains a significant and current issue that many individuals experience during their childhood. The literature suggests that the development of empathy can be hindered by experiencing child abuse, as victims often struggle more with recognizing and understanding other’s emotions. Rumination, a maladaptive form of emotion regulation, may potentially mediate this relationship. The present study examines whether individuals who have experienced child abuse score lower on empathy and whether this relationship is mediated by a higher degree of rumination. The sample, consisting of the parents of the adolescents, included 74 men and 79 women with an average age of 49 years. Parental empathy was measured through the subjective experience of the child using a reminiscence task, where the adolescent shares a distressing experience with the parent. Child abuse and rumination were measured via self-report questionnaires. The multiple regression analysis found no significant effect...Show moreChild abuse remains a significant and current issue that many individuals experience during their childhood. The literature suggests that the development of empathy can be hindered by experiencing child abuse, as victims often struggle more with recognizing and understanding other’s emotions. Rumination, a maladaptive form of emotion regulation, may potentially mediate this relationship. The present study examines whether individuals who have experienced child abuse score lower on empathy and whether this relationship is mediated by a higher degree of rumination. The sample, consisting of the parents of the adolescents, included 74 men and 79 women with an average age of 49 years. Parental empathy was measured through the subjective experience of the child using a reminiscence task, where the adolescent shares a distressing experience with the parent. Child abuse and rumination were measured via self-report questionnaires. The multiple regression analysis found no significant effect between child abuse and empathy, and no mediating role of rumination. However, it was found that individuals who have experienced child abuse ruminate more than those who have not experienced child abuse (b = 0.24, p < .05). This research can provide more insight into the socio-emotional development of parents who have experienced child abuse and improve potential interventions. A longitudinal study is necessary to gain more insight into the underlying mechanisms.Show less

Child maltreatment

empathy

rumination

Author

Mulder, Feline

Faculty

Faculty of Social & Behavioural Sciences

Supervisors

Dr. M.S. Tollenaar

ECTS Credits

15 ECTS

Language

nl