Cognitive and affective empathy in younger and older individuals

We aimed to elucidate how cognitive and affective empathy differ across age groups and how these differences might relate to executive dysfunction.

In study I, we assessed 108 healthy participants in three consecutive age groups (20-39 years/40-59 years/60-79 years) using a self-report measure of trait cognitive and affective empathy (interpersonal reactivity index: IRI). In study II, 54 younger (20-35 years) and 54 older (55-70 years) individuals completed a test of state cognitive and affective empathy (multifaceted empathy test: MET). Additionally, measures of cognitive flexibility, response inhibition, and working memory were administered.

Older and younger adults were comparable with regard to trait empathy (study I). Contrary to most previous findings, older adults did not show impaired state-cognitive empathy, but scored higher on subtests of state-affective empathy relative to the younger group, irrespective of the valence of the stimulus material (study II). Performance on the executive subtests was related to empathy in both studies.

While older and younger cohorts might not differ with regard to trait empathy, and state-cognitive empathy performance might be task-dependent, this investigation provides first evidence of potentially increased state affective empathic responding in older age. This might be related to executive dysfunction, in particular poor inhibitory control.