“When empathy hurts”. Multidimensional evaluation and proposals for emotional regulation of empathy

Introduction. Empathy is the ability to identify and understand the thoughts and feelings of others and to respond with appropriate emotions. The multidimensional model allows discriminating between cognitive and affective empathy. If there is a blockage of the emotional regulation, empathy can be transformed into anxiety and pain.
Aims. Explore the multidimensional model of empathy, and put forward proposals for emotional regulation based on gender and the extreme values of empathy.
Methods. Observational study in a sample of 151 university students. The multidimensional model of empathy is evaluated using the subscales of the Interpersonal Reactivity Index: cognitive empathy (IRI-Perspective Taking, IRI-Fantasy Scale) and affective empathy (IRI-Empathetic Concern, IRI-Personal Distress). The Empathy Quotient allows detection of extreme values of empathy.

Results. Most participants 110 (78.8%) were women, 130 (86.1%) had average scores of empathy, 11 (7.3%) showed low empathy and 10 (6.6%) very high scores of empathy. Empathy scores were higher in women in IRI-Fantasy Scale (p = 0.042), IRI-Empathetic Concern (p = 0.002) and in Empathy Quotient (0.047). Participants with very high empathy scores had higher scores in IRI-Perspective Taking (p = 0.005) and in IRI-Empathetic Concern (p <0.001).
Discussion. The results of this study allow making proposals for emotional regulation of empathy, based on gender and extreme values. We propose training cognitive empathy (putting yourself in the place of another in a fictional context) and modulating affective empathy (re-educate inadequate emotional response and offer support in the elaboration of personal experiences).