Assessing Cognitive and Affective Empathy Through the Interpersonal Reactivity Index

Assessment ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 23 (6) ◽  
pp. 769-777 ◽  
Author(s):  
Evangelia G. Chrysikou ◽  
W. Jake Thompson

One aspect of higher order social cognition is empathy, a psychological construct comprising a cognitive (recognizing emotions) and an affective (responding to emotions) component. The complex nature of empathy complicates the accurate measurement of these components. The most widely used measure of empathy is the Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI). However, the factor structure of the IRI as it is predominantly used in the psychological literature differs from Davis’s original four-factor model in that it arbitrarily combines the subscales to form two factors: cognitive and affective empathy. This two-factor model of the IRI, although popular, has yet to be examined for psychometric support. In the current study, we examine, for the first time, the validity of this alternative model. A confirmatory factor analysis showed poor model fit for this two-factor structure. Additional analyses offered support for the original four-factor model, as well as a hierarchical model for the scale. In line with previous findings, females scored higher on the IRI than males. Our findings indicate that the IRI, as it is currently used in the literature, does not accurately measure cognitive and affective empathy and highlight the advantages of using the original four-factor structure of the scale for empathy assessments.

Assessment ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 107319112110276
Author(s):  
Caitlin Rancher ◽  
Renee McDonald ◽  
Akihito Kamata ◽  
Mindy Jackson ◽  
Ernest N. Jouriles

Self-blame appraisals are frequently studied among adolescents following sexual abuse. However, the conceptualization and operationalization of self-blame varies across studies, with some examining self-blame specific to the abuse and others examining global self-blame. The present study examined the factor structure and theorized correlates of measures of self-blame appraisals among a sample of adolescents who had been sexually abused ( N = 493, 91% female). Results of confirmatory factor analyses indicated that a two-factor model, in which abuse-specific and global self-blame appraisals load onto separate factors, produced a superior model fit compared with a single-factor model, though the two factors were highly correlated. Abuse-specific and global self-blame appraisals are differentially associated with theorized correlates, such as experiencing coercion during the abuse. Taken together, the findings suggest that adolescents’ abuse-specific and global self-blame appraisals following sexual abuse are measuring distinct constructs.


2020 ◽  
Vol 36 (2) ◽  
pp. 427-431
Author(s):  
Aurelie M. C. Lange ◽  
Marc J. M. H. Delsing ◽  
Ron H. J. Scholte ◽  
Rachel E. A. van der Rijken

Abstract. The Therapist Adherence Measure (TAM-R) is a central assessment within the quality-assurance system of Multisystemic Therapy (MST). Studies into the validity and reliability of the TAM in the US have found varying numbers of latent factors. The current study aimed to reexamine its factor structure using two independent samples of families participating in MST in the Netherlands. The factor structure was explored using an Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) in Sample 1 ( N = 580). This resulted in a two-factor solution. The factors were labeled “therapist adherence” and “client–therapist alliance.” Four cross-loading items were dropped. Reliability of the resulting factors was good. This two-factor model showed good model fit in a subsequent Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) in Sample 2 ( N = 723). The current finding of an alliance component corroborates previous studies and fits with the focus of the MST treatment model on creating engagement.


Assessment ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 23 (6) ◽  
pp. 778-778 ◽  
Author(s):  
Evangelia G. Chrysikou ◽  
W. Jake Thompson

Chrysikou, E. G., & Thompson, W. J. (2016). Assessing cognitive and affective empathy through the interpersonal reactivity index: An argument against a two-factor model. Assessment, 23(6), 769-777. doi: 1073191115599055 .


2017 ◽  
Vol 30 (2) ◽  
pp. 160-167 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas A. Hagerty ◽  
William Samuels ◽  
Andrea Norcini-Pala ◽  
Eileen Gigliotti

A confirmatory factor analysis of data from the responses of 12,436 patients to 16 items on the Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems–Hospital survey was used to test a latent factor structure based on Peplau’s middle-range theory of interpersonal relations. A two-factor model based on Peplau’s theory fit these data well, whereas a three-factor model also based on Peplau’s theory fit them excellently and provided a suitable alternate factor structure for the data. Though neither the two- nor three-factor model fit as well as the original factor structure, these results support using Peplau’s theory to demonstrate nursing’s extensive contribution to the experiences of hospitalized patients.


2020 ◽  
Vol 2 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ibrahim A. Musenze ◽  
Thomas S. Mayende

Purpose - This study aimed at the establishment of the psychometric properties of the UWES-17 itemed factorial structure.  This was done by examining the similarities and differences in  terms of model fit of the tri-factor model to a one-factor model.  Design/methodology/approach - Using a cross-sectional design, confirmatory factor analysis was used to evaluate the 17-item uni-dimensional and the 17-item tri-factor UWES respectively on a sample of 323 Education Assistants (professional teachers) in Uganda. Findings - The study confirmed an 11 item tri-factor UWES-Ug as a reliable and parsimonious factor structure within this cohort.Research limitations/implications - The sample was restricted to teachers and this limits the generalisability of the findings.Practical implications - On account of these results, the study sample evidently attests to the fact that work engagement is best represented as a tri-factor construct in Ugandan context.  This study contributes to theory by confirmation of the three-factor structure of work engagement in developing countries through use of perceptual data from a Ugandan sample. Originality/value - This is a pioneer empirical study that validates the UWES 17 itemed scale in Uganda.


2011 ◽  
Vol 27 (3) ◽  
pp. 179-185 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ana Maria Fernández ◽  
Michele Dufey ◽  
Uwe Kramp

The psychometric properties of Davis’ (1980) Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI) in Chile were assessed. The IRI was applied to a sample of 435 college students. Appropriate internal consistencies and test-retest stability resulted. The instrument’s validity was evidenced by the interrelations among the scales, in addition to its correlations in the predicted direction to other related psychological constructs, and sex differences emerged in three of its dimensions. A confirmatory factor analysis corroborated the theoretical structure of the IRI in Chile, and the suitability of both the four-factor model and a second order factor that integrates three of the dimensions . The implications and comparison of the results with other adaptations of the IRI are discussed.


2005 ◽  
Vol 27 (2) ◽  
pp. 253-260 ◽  
Author(s):  
Harry Prapavessis ◽  
Ralph Maddison ◽  
Richard Fletcher

The purpose of the present study was to provide further evidence for the factor structure and composition of the Sport Anxiety Scale (SAS; Smith, Smoll, & Schutz, 1990) using a sample of competitive male rugby players (N = 570). Three models were tested using both confirmatory factor analytic and polyto-mous item-response theory procedures: Smith et al’s original model; Dunn et al.’s (2000) alternative model in which Items 14 and 20 were originally designed to measure Concentration Disruption load on the Worry factor (Model A); and Model B (the removal of Item 1). Results showed that Models A and B provided similar fits to the data. Overall these findings argue for the utilization of Model B to improve model fit and maintain conceptual clarity. Our findings suggest that the factor structure and composition of the SAS needs further examination and possible refinement before researchers can feel more confident about the effectiveness of the instrument’s psychometric properties.


2017 ◽  
Vol 41 (S1) ◽  
pp. s795-s796 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. Manarte

ObjectiveEmpathy has received a lot of attention with the creation of an Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI). IRI is assessed using a 28-item questionnaire with four 7-item scales:– perspective-taking (PT) scale;– fantasy (FS) scale;– empathic concern (EC) scale and iv) personal distress (PD) scale.Such questionnaires have been translated in many languages (see Table 1). This work aims to compare the original model with existing modified, hierarchical, shortened models in the literature and to also translate and validate the IRI for Portuguese.MethodsA convenience sampling was used (n = 130) to conduct confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) using AMOS software. The original four-factor model is contrasted with modified, hierarchical and shortened models proposed in the literature, reporting internal consistency statistics and their fit indices.ResultsThe same structure of factors was found in the sample with reasonably good fit indices χ2/df = 1.57, CFI = 0.77, AGFI = 0.72 and RMSEA = 0.067. Internal reliability for each scale of the IRI was not excellent (< 0.90), but it is in line with the literature: PT with a Cronbach's alpha of 0.74, FS with 0.79, EC with 0.74 and PD with 0.65. The comparison with other modified versions of the IRI latent factor structure revealed that two models with better fit than the original version, and the potential for a shortened Portuguese version of the IRI.ConclusionIRI is a valid instrument to measure empathy in the Portuguese Population and is in line with previous findings. Some modifications to the original latent structure provide a better data fit than the original one.Disclosure of interestThe author has not supplied his/her declaration of competing interest.


1998 ◽  
Vol 37 (4) ◽  
pp. 303-316 ◽  
Author(s):  
Charles A. Guarnaccia ◽  
Bert Hayslip

To empirically determine the factor structure of the original sixty-seven-item Bereavement Experience Questionnaire (BEQ) (Demi, 1984; Demi & Schroeder, 1987, 1989), data from 437 adults bereaved within the past two years were subjected to exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis. Results did not support the original theoretically based, eight-factor structure, but did suggest a three-factor structure with fewer items. A twenty-four-item three-factor (Existential Loss/Emotional Needs, Guilt/Blame/Anger, Preoccupation with Thoughts of Deceased) LISREL measurement model fit the data well. In addition, this three-factor model made good theoretical sense. This empirically derived twenty-four-item three-factor scale was then cross-validated with independent data from an additional 297 bereaved adults. The use of this refined measure of grief, the BEQ-24, is discussed.


Assessment ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
pp. 3-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eriko Fukuda ◽  
Donald H. Saklofske ◽  
Katsuo Tamaoka ◽  
Hyunjung Lim

This study reports the factor structure of a Korean version of the 16-item Wong and Law Emotional Intelligence Scale (WLEIS) for a sample of 161 Korean university students. Confirmatory factor analysis supported the four-factor model of the WLEIS: (1) self-emotional appraisal, (2) others’ emotional appraisal, (3) use of emotion, and (4) regulation of emotion. However, improvement of the model fit after removing three items suggests the need for future research on the cross-cultural measurement invariance of the WLEIS.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document