Relationship between the Broader Autism Phenotype and empathy among students

Abstract

Previous research has shown that persons with a higher level of the broad autism phenotype (BAP) experience deficits in empathy. The aim of the present study is to investigate a multivariate relationship between the BAP and different aspects of empathy. In a sample of 293 university students, we explored the relationship between the BAP and the following aspects of empathy: fantasy, empathic concern, perspective taking, and personal distress. The BAP level was measured using The Broad Autism Phenotype Questionnaire (BAPQ), and the Interpersonal Reactivity Index was used for multidimensional assessment of empathy disposition. Canonical correlation analysis yielded two functions (Function 1 ̶ Rc2 = 17.31%, Function 2 ̶ Rc2 = 10.82%). In Function 1, IRI subscales Personal Distress (PD) (rs = .92) and Perspective Taking (PT) (rs = -.39) are associated significantly with all three domains of the BAP. The strongest correlation PD and PT show with Rigid and Pragmatic Language domains of the BAP, while they demonstrate a weaker relationship with the Aloofness domain. In Function 2, IRI subscales Empathic Concern (EC) (rs = -.98), Fantasy (FS) (rs = -.46), PT (rs = -.43) and PD (rs = -.31) are related to the Aloofness domain of the BAP. The results imply that the relationship between BAP and empathy differs for different aspects of these two constructs. The more detailed understanding of the relationship between BAP and empathy obtained through the multivariate approach provides a basis from which to create programs for the more efficient promotion of empathy skills.