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Affective empathy in schizophrenia: a meta-analysis.
Kelsey A Bonfils1, Paul H Lysaker2, Kyle S Minor1
1Psychology Department, Indiana University-Purdue University, 402 North Blackford Street, Indianapolis, IN, United States.
Schizophrenia Research
|April 21, 2016
Summary
People with schizophrenia show significant deficits in affective empathy, the ability to share others' emotions. These empathy deficits were more pronounced when assessed using performance-based measures compared to self-reports.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Psychiatry
- Neuroscience
Background:
- Affective empathy is crucial for social connection and relationship maintenance.
- Schizophrenia is associated with social cognition impairments, but affective empathy deficits are not well-synthesized.
- This study addresses the gap in understanding affective empathy in schizophrenia.
Purpose of the Study:
- To conduct a meta-analysis on affective empathy deficits in individuals with schizophrenia.
- To quantify the extent of these deficits and explore moderating factors.
Main Methods:
- A comprehensive literature search was performed for studies on empathy.
- Data from 37 studies were analyzed using a random effects meta-analytic model.
- Hedges' g standardized mean difference was used to calculate effect sizes.
Main Results:
- Individuals with schizophrenia exhibited significant, medium-sized deficits in affective empathy.
- Deficits were larger when using performance-based measures compared to self-report measures.
- Measurement type significantly moderated the observed affective empathy deficits.
Conclusions:
- Consistent and significant affective empathy deficits exist in people with schizophrenia compared to controls.
- Performance-based assessments highlight greater deficits, suggesting their utility in research.
- Further research is needed on measurement techniques and the link between empathy and functional outcomes in schizophrenia.
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