Emotional empathy mediates the relationship between personality traits and coping strategies in orphan and non-orphan students

Abstract

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to inspect the potential mediation pathways among emotional empathy, personality traits and coping strategies in orphan and non-orphan students. Additionally, it designed to investigate the association of coping strategies with emotional empathy and personality traits. Design/methodology/approach Purposive sampling technique and cross-sectional design were employed in current study. The data of 130 adolescents (institutionalized orphans, n= 62; school students, n=68) were included from different high schools and orphanages of Rawalpindi and Islamabad, Pakistan, in 2017. Three instruments, emotional empathy scale (Mehrabian and Epstein, 1972; Shazia, 2004), coping of problem experience (Carver, 1989; Akhtar, 2005), and Eysenck personality questionnaire (Naqvi and Kamal, 2010; Eysenck, 1964; Eysenck and Eysenck, 1994), were employed to measure personality traits, emotional empathy and coping strategies in orphan and non-orphan students. Findings Mediation analyses illustrated that personality traits relegated active avoidance coping strategy through emotional empathy in orphan students. On contrary, the study findings demonstrated that neurotic personality promoted positive coping strategy through emotional empathy in non-orphan students. Research limitations/implications The methodological limitations of this study are that the sample is of 130 participants that limits the generalizability of its results; furthermore, it was done on only the male orphans students of only one institute. Further research can be done on different orphanages to enhance the generalizability of results. This study included orphan and non-orphan students from the two cities of Pakistan; consequently, its findings may not be generalizable to the whole population. In the future, cross-sectional and experimental researches working with more assorted data could help elucidate the mechanisms by which interpersonal factors affect and stimulate coping strategies in orphans and high school students. Practical implications This paper exposes a number of ways for upcoming future studies. This study findings can be employed to enhance knowledge and offer assistance for orphans, on how to identify and get help from coping resources to tackle various problems and how to build new psychological preventions and interventions strategies in the Pakistani society. There still exists a need to find out the effect of emotion, empathy on personality types in relation to different environmental conditions. The findings have implications for pedagogical intervention as such improvements can be initiated in the pedagogical context. Social implications This study comprised only orphan and non-orphan students from two twin cities of Pakistan; consequently, its findings may not be applicable to the whole population. In future, cross-sectional and experimental researches with more assorted data will assist clarify the mechanism that interpersonal factors affect and stimulate coping strategies in high school students. Originality/value Study findings proposed that coping strategies can be promoted by interpersonal factors such as personality traits and empathy to tackle different orphan’s psychological problem in various negative situation.

Psychometric validation of the collective asset Utu: associations with coping strategies and resilience during adolescence

“…It is hypothesized that orphans may demonstrate higher compassion scores than nonorphans because of their living context where orphans live and form friendships with a diverse pool of peers. This finding is also consistent with previous research that found higher levels of emotional empathy among orphans in comparison to non-orphans [ 71 ]. The lack of differences in other dimensions of Utu by gender and orphan study resonate with the philosophical underpinnings of Utu that holds humanness as essential and protected irrespective gender, race, tribal, religious or political affiliations [ 72 ].…”

Pakistani orphanage caregivers' perspectives regarding their caregiving abilities, personal and orphan children's psychological wellbeing

“…Interestingly, male caregivers only reported financial stressors. While it is possible that they did not experience physical or personal impacts of their caregiving role, it may also be due to discomfort in reporting such issues, as in Pakistani culture men are expected to be strong and any sign of weakness can lead to humiliation and mockery (Akram et al, 2015 ; Aqeel et al, 2019 ). While discussing confidence levels among caregivers, it was evident that male caregivers appeared to be more confident and assertive in their caregiving abilities.…”

“…While discussing confidence levels among caregivers, it was evident that male caregivers appeared to be more confident and assertive in their caregiving abilities. This again needs to be considered in the Pakistani context, where males are considered an authority figure and children fear their authority (Alvi et al, 2017 ; Aqeel et al, 2019 ). Although there was a range of experience, none of the caregivers had received any relevant prior professional training.…”

“…Orphanage care is often characterized by a profound lack of caregiver–child interactions (Aqeel et al, 2019 ; Lassi et al, 2011 ) and driven by structural constraints such as long work shifts, high caregiver‐child ratios and insufficient training (Akram et al, 2015 ). This extended exposure to stressful work conditions predicts work role uncertainty, personal and professional dissatisfaction and internal conflict among caregiver professionals (Govindshenoy & Spencer, 2007 ).…”

Does emotional intelligence impact service innovation capabilities? Exploring the role of diversity climate and innovation culture

“…These skills enable effective communication, collaboration, and knowledge management (McKay and Avery, 2015). EI in HC is supported by intellectual capital literature (Aqeel et al, 2019). Emotional intelligence helps intellectual capital flourish, according to study.…”