Affective empathy plays a crucial role in parenting. One possible predictor of affective empathy is parents’ attitudes towards children. However, little research has been conducted on this...Show moreAffective empathy plays a crucial role in parenting. One possible predictor of affective empathy is parents’ attitudes towards children. However, little research has been conducted on this relationship. Additionally, stress could play a moderating role in this relationship, via suppression of the positive role of attitudes on empathy. The aim of this study, therefore, is to gain insight into the relationship between attitudes towards children and affective empathy, and the moderating role of stress in this relationship. The main question is: “To what extent is there a relationship between attitudes towards children and affective empathy in female students between 18 and 25 years old and is this relationship moderated by stress?”. Affective empathy is measured by sympathy experienced when observing children in negative social contexts and positive affect experienced when observing children in positive social contexts. Participants were randomly assigned to two conditions: the stress condition (Trier Social Stress Test) and the no-stress condition. In both conditions, participants completed an experimental task measuring affective empathy and filled out questionnaires. Results showed that more positive attitudes were related to more sympathy and positive affect. Stress played no role in this relationship. From this study, it can be concluded that there is a positive relationship between attitudes towards children and affective empathy. This provides opportunities for interventions. Positive attitudes can be promoted through education and training, which in turn can be implemented to stimulate affective empathy. Finally, this research provides a starting point for further research into the predictors of affective empathy.Show less
