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Empathy through the Pandemic: Changes of Different Emphatic Dimensions during the COVID-19 Outbreak

Author

Listed:
  • Chiara Baiano

    (Department of Psychology, University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, 81100 Caserta, Italy)

  • Gennaro Raimo

    (Department of Psychology, University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, 81100 Caserta, Italy)

  • Isa Zappullo

    (Department of Psychology, University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, 81100 Caserta, Italy)

  • Marialaura Marra

    (Department of Psychology, University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, 81100 Caserta, Italy)

  • Roberta Cecere

    (Department of Psychology, University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, 81100 Caserta, Italy)

  • Luigi Trojano

    (Department of Psychology, University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, 81100 Caserta, Italy)

  • Massimiliano Conson

    (Department of Psychology, University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, 81100 Caserta, Italy)

Abstract

Growing evidence suggests that empathy is a relevant psychological trait to face the challenges imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic, but at the present very little is known on whether this multi-dimensional construct has been affected by the pandemic outbreak differently in its separate components. Here, we aimed at filling this gap by capitalizing on the opportunity of having collected data from different self-report measures and cognitive tasks assessing the main dimensions of empathy immediately before the beginning of the global pandemic and about one year later. The results showed a detrimental impact of the pandemic outbreak on empathic social skills but not on both cognitive (perspective-taking) and emotional empathy that instead significantly improved. Thus, reduced empathic social skills could be a weakness to be targeted in psychological interventions to help people cope with the mental health challenges related to COVID-19 pandemic, whereas the ability of understanding another’s mental states and emotions could represent a strength in dealing with the current long-lasting crisis.

Suggested Citation

  • Chiara Baiano & Gennaro Raimo & Isa Zappullo & Marialaura Marra & Roberta Cecere & Luigi Trojano & Massimiliano Conson, 2022. "Empathy through the Pandemic: Changes of Different Emphatic Dimensions during the COVID-19 Outbreak," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(4), pages 1-8, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:4:p:2435-:d:753790
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Gaia Sampogna & Maurizio Pompili & Andrea Fiorillo, 2021. "Mental Health in the Time of COVID-19 Pandemic: A Worldwide Perspective," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(1), pages 1-5, December.
    2. Matthew Owens & Ellen Townsend & Eleanor Hall & Tanisha Bhatia & Rosie Fitzgibbon & Francesca Miller-Lakin, 2022. "Mental Health and Wellbeing in Young People in the UK during Lockdown (COVID-19)," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(3), pages 1-15, January.
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