Cognitive and affective empathy in younger and older individuals
Cognitive and affective empathy in younger and older individuals
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DOI：
10.1080/13607863.2014.899973
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发表时间：
2014-07
影响因子：
3.4
通讯作者：
Oksana Ze;P. Thoma;B. Suchan
中科院分区：
文献类型：
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作者：
Oksana Ze;P. Thoma;B. Suchan
目的：我们的目的是阐明认知和情感共情如何在不同年龄组之间存在差异，以及这些差异如何与执行功能障碍有关。研究方法：在研究I中，我们评估了108名健康参与者在三个连续的年龄组（20-39岁/40-59岁/60-79岁）使用自我报告的特质认知和情感同理心（人际反应指数：IRI）的措施。在研究II中，54名年轻人（20-35岁）和54名老年人（55-70岁）完成了状态认知和情感同理心测试（多方面同理心测试：MET）。此外，还进行了认知灵活性、反应抑制和工作记忆的测量。结果：老年人和年轻人在特质同理心方面具有可比性（研究I）。与大多数以前的研究结果相反，老年人没有表现出受损的状态认知共情，但得分较高的状态情感共情相对于年轻组的子测试，无论刺激材料的效价（研究II）。在这两项研究中，执行子测试的表现都与同理心有关。讨论内容：虽然老年和年轻的队列可能没有不同的特质共情方面，状态认知共情的表现可能是任务依赖性的，这项调查提供了第一个证据，可能增加状态情感共情反应在老年人。这可能与执行功能障碍有关，特别是抑制控制不良。
Objective: We aimed to elucidate how cognitive and affective empathy differ across age groups and how these differences might relate to executive dysfunction. Methods: In study I, we assessed 108 healthy participants in three consecutive age groups (20–39 years/40–59 years/60–79 years) using a self-report measure of trait cognitive and affective empathy (interpersonal reactivity index: IRI). In study II, 54 younger (20–35 years) and 54 older (55–70 years) individuals completed a test of state cognitive and affective empathy (multifaceted empathy test: MET). Additionally, measures of cognitive flexibility, response inhibition, and working memory were administered. Results: Older and younger adults were comparable with regard to trait empathy (study I). Contrary to most previous findings, older adults did not show impaired state-cognitive empathy, but scored higher on subtests of state-affective empathy relative to the younger group, irrespective of the valence of the stimulus material (study II). Performance on the executive subtests was related to empathy in both studies. Discussion: While older and younger cohorts might not differ with regard to trait empathy, and state-cognitive empathy performance might be task-dependent, this investigation provides first evidence of potentially increased state affective empathic responding in older age. This might be related to executive dysfunction, in particular poor inhibitory control.