Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 11, 2026

Functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy Hyperscanning Study in Psychological Counseling
Published on: January 17, 2025
Is it better to receive than to give? Empathy in the conflict-distress relationship
Merideth Ferguson1, Dawn Carlson, Suzanne Zivnuska
1Baylor University, Hankamer School of Business, Department of Management, One Bear Place #98006, Waco, TX 76798-8006, USA. merideth_ferguson@baylor.edu
Abstract:
The moderating effect of partner empathy on the relationship between both directions of work-family conflict (work-to-family and family-to-work) and psychological distress of both the job incumbent and partner are examined in this study. Considering empathy as a specific dimension of emotional social support, we hypothesized that receiving empathy would buffer negative spillover to the job incumbent while giving empathy would exacerbate negative crossover to the partner. A study of 270 job incumbents and their partners revealed that receiving partner empathy fully moderated spillover effects due to family-to-work conflict but had no effects with work-to-family conflict. We also found it interesting that giving partner empathy moderated the crossover effects on family-to-work conflict but had no effects with work-to-family conflict. Implications of these findings and avenues for future research are discussed.
Related Concept Videos
Empathy
Egoism and Altruism
Equity Theory
Coping Strategies: Emotion Focused
Ending Relationships
Techniques of therapeutic communication I: Active Listening, Sharing Observations, Validation, and Using Touch
Therapeutic communication is not the same as social interaction. Social interaction has no goal or purpose and consists of casual information sharing, whereas therapeutic communication has a plan or purpose for the conversation. Therapeutic...

