Cross-Cultural Validation of the Empathy Quotient in a French-Speaking Sample

Abstract

This study provides further evidence that the EQ is reliable in this population and should be recommended to estimate empathy problems, notably in individuals with troubled interpersonal interaction patterns.

Alexithymia in the interpersonal domain: A general deficit of empathy?

“…In line with previous studies (e.g., Levant, Hall, Williams, & Hasan, 2009), female participants had lower alexithymia scores than male participants, even after controlling for anxiety levels. This effect of gender on empathy (e.g., higher level of empathy within female groups -except for perspective taking) has been observed several times with self-reported questionnaires (e.g., Berthoz et al, 2008;Davis, 1980). Yet, this effect has not been found systematically in behavioral studies using empathy tasks (Baron-Cohen, Wheelwright, & Hill, 2001;Mohr, Rowe, & Blanke, 2010).…”

“…Yet, this question is critical, as depression and anxiety have been associated with alexithymia, particularly its affective dimensions (e.g., Berthoz, Consoli, Perez-Diaz, & Jouvent, 1999;Luminet, Bagby, & Taylor, 2001). Further, previous studies reported associations between depression, anxiety and empathy (see Berthoz, Wessa, Kedia, Wicker, & Grezes, 2008). Hence, the present study sought to test the expected associations between alexithymia and empathy and assess their shared variance and covariance with depression and anxiety.…”

An Investigation of the Divergences and Convergences of Trait Empathy across Two Cultures

“…Accordingly, the final score will be between 0 and 80, where a higher score indicates higher empathic tendencies. The EQ's psychometric properties have been attested in numerous studies (e.g., Berthoz et al, 2008;Preti et al, 2011).…”

“…For example, studies using the EQ have reported lower empathy in ASD population (BaronCohen & Wheelwright, 2004;Berthoz et al, 2008), whereas studies using the IRI have found difference between ASD and ordinary populations only in two subscales. More specifically, ASD populations might have lower and higher scores in cognitive empathy and personal distress respectively, but they could score similarly in affective empathy (Rueda et al, 2015;Senland & Higgins-D'Alessandro, 2016).…”

“…The reported internal consistency used with Chinese sample was acceptable, α IRI = .66 -.79 (Zhao et al, 2017). Berthoz et al (2008) did not examine the reliability of the IRI used with their sample. Instead, the authors relied on the previously reported reliability index for the IRI and concluded, "The IRI has good internal and convergent validity and test-retest reliability" (p. 471).…”