Abstract: The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of the birth of the second child on the empathy ability of the first child. We also studied the moderating effect of parenting sense of competence. We selected 650 primary and middle school students as samples and used the Interpersonal Reactivity Index (Revised Edition) and the Parenting Sense of Competence Scale. The study found that: 1) The empathy ability of the first child in the two children family was higher than the empathy ability of those who are the only child of the family. 2) The parenting sense of competence could regulate the relationship between having the second child and the first child's empathy ability, that is, for the group with high parenting sense of competence, the birth of the second child had no effect on the development of the empathy ability of the first child; for the group with low parenting sense of competence, the empathy ability of the first child was higher than the empathy ability of those who are the only child of the family. In conclusion, the birth of the second child can promote the development of the empathy ability of the first child, which is modulated by the parenting sense of competence.

Key words: first child, second child, parenting sense of competence, empathy ability

摘要： 研究采用人际反应指数量表（修订版）和父母教养能力感量表，选取650名中小学生为研究对象，考察了二胎出生对头胎儿童共情能力的影响，并探讨了父母教养能力感在二胎出生与头胎儿童共情能力关系中的调节作用。研究发现：（1）二胎家庭中头胎儿童的共情能力高于独生儿童的共情能力。（2）父母教养能力感能够调节二胎出生与头胎儿童共情能力的关系：对于父母教养能力感高的群体而言，二胎出生对头胎儿童共情能力的发展没有影响；对于父母教养能力感低的群体而言，头胎儿童的共情能力比独生儿童的高。因此，二胎出生能够促进头胎儿童共情能力的发展，且二胎出生对头胎儿童共情能力的影响受父母教养能力感的调节。

关键词: 头胎儿童, 二胎, 父母教养能力感, 共情能力