Document Type
Article
Publication Date
2016
Abstract
Empathic tendencies have been associated with interpersonal and psychological benefits, but empathy at extreme levels or in combination with certain personal characteristics may contribute to risk for depression. This study tested the moderating role of cognitive emotion regulation in depression’s association with empathy using nonlinear models. Young adults (N=304; 77% female; M=19 years) completed measures of cognitive emotion regulation strategies, depression, and affective and cognitive empathy. Individuals with good regulation had low levels of depression overall and their depression symptoms were lowest when levels of affective empathy were average. Individuals with poor regulation had high levels of depression overall, particularly when levels of empathy were moderate to high. Extremely high and low levels of cognitive empathy were associated with elevated depression, and this association was not moderated by regulation. These findings suggest tendencies to respond empathically to others’ needs is neither an adaptive nor maladaptive characteristic but rather moderate empathy, particularly in the context of good regulation, may offer the greatest protection against depression.
Recommended Citation
Tully, Erin; Ames, Alyssa M.; Garcia, Sarah E.; and Donohue, Meghan R., "Quadratic associations between empathy and depression and the moderating influence of dysregulation" (2016). Psychology Faculty Publications. 144.
https://scholarworks.gsu.edu/psych_facpub/144
Embargo Date
6-30-2015
Comments
This is an Author's Original Manuscript of an article submitted for consideration in the Journal of Psychology, (c) Taylor & Francis; The Journal of Psychology is available online at http://www.tandfonline.com/.
Tully, E. C., Ames, A. A., Garcia, S. E., & Donohue, R. D. (in press). Quadratic associations between empathy and depression and the moderating influence of dysregulation. The Journal of Psychology.