Table 3.
Self-Reported Empathy and Emotion as a Function of Age Group
| Younger | Older | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Type of measure | Measure | M | SD | M | SD |
| Trait: empathy | IRI-PT | 20.75 | 4.83 | 17.26 | 4.54 |
| IRI-EC | 20.92 | 4.99 | 21.31 | 3.38 | |
| State: Ratio Ratings (per emotion category) | Empathy | 1.65 | 0.87 | 1.60 | 0.97 |
| Sadness | 2.03 | 1.12 | 1.79 | 0.91 | |
| Personal distress | 1.35 | 0.56 | 1.59 | 0.97 | |
| Hostility | 1.01 | 0.18 | 1.07 | 0.21 | |
| Joviality | 0.75 | 0.24 | 0.79 | 0.20 | |
Notes. Descriptive means and SD are reported for the younger and older adult age groups per empathy measure. For the IRI questionnaire, participants’ sum on each subscale (either PT or EC) is depicted. Ratio Ratings: for each emotion category (empathy, personal distress, sadness, hostility, and joviality), a ratio was computed separately such that the participants’ average rating after the empathy induction was divided by their average rating immediately prior to the empathy induction. IRI-EC = Interpersonal Reactivity Index, Empathic Concern subscale; IRI-PT = Interpersonal Reactivity Index, Perspective Taking subscale; SD = standard deviation.