Cognitive empathy across the lifespan

Dorris, L. , Young, D., Byrne, K. and Hoyle, R. (2022) Cognitive empathy across the lifespan. Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology, 64(12), pp. 1524-1531. (doi: 10.1111/dmcn.15263) (PMID:35594529)

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Abstract

Aim: To describe the development of cognitive empathy across the lifespan from a very large cohort using a standardized measure of cognitive empathy ability. Method: Participants (n=4545, age bands <5y to >75y, 60% female) were a convenience sample recruited voluntarily from visitors to the Glasgow Science Centre in the UK, who completed the Reading the Mind in the Eyes Test. Results: When compared to preceding age groups, we found significant developmental gains in empathy ability in children aged 6 to 7 years (p=0.048, d=0.45) and again at 10 to 12 years (p=0.042, d=0.23), followed by a slight reduction in ability during adolescence (p=0.087, d=–0.18), and functional maturity in those aged 19 to 25 years (p=0.001, d=0.76). Cognitive empathy abilities remained relatively stable across adulthood but gradually declined in people over 65 years, with notable decline in males over 75 years (p=0.001, d=–0.98). Females performed better than males at all ages. Interpretation: Understanding developmental issues in cognitive empathy could influence approaches to moral and social education for children, and health and social care support for older people. Standardized cognitive empathy tests could also provide novel approaches in the early detection of developmental vulnerabilities in a range of neurological conditions, and within neuropsychiatric and neurodegenerative disorders in which cognitive empathy is known to be impaired.

Item Type:Articles
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Dorris, Professor Liam
Authors: Dorris, L., Young, D., Byrne, K., and Hoyle, R.
College/School:College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Health & Wellbeing > Mental Health and Wellbeing
Journal Name:Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology
Publisher:Wiley
ISSN:0012-1622
ISSN (Online):1469-8749
Published Online:20 May 2022
Copyright Holders:Copyright © 2022 The Authors
First Published:First published in Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology 64(12): 1524-1531
Publisher Policy:Reproduced under a Creative Commons licence

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