The Association of Empathy on Depression: The Moderating Effect of Peer-Relationship

Abstract

Abstract: In order to explore the impact of empathy on depression and the role of peer-relationship plays in it. The current study used the Interpersonal Reactivity Index-C, the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scales, and the Friendship Qualities Scale to measure participants’ empathy, depressive symptoms, and peer relationships. We employed 458 early adult college students. The results showed that empathy was significantly positively correlated with depressive symptoms and peer-relationship, and peer-relationship was significantly negatively correlated with depression. Conflict dimensions of peer-relationship could moderate the relationship between affective empathy and depression after controlling gender and age. Therefore, these findings suggest that peer-relationship has a moderating effect on the relationship between empathy and depression. In specific, the high conflict peer-relationship strengthens the relationship between empathy and depression while the low conflict peer-relationship weakens the relationship between empathy and depression.

Key words: empathy, affective empathy, depression, peer-relationship, moderating effect

摘要： 为了探讨共情和抑郁的关系，以及同伴关系在其中起到的作用，本研究采用人际反应指针（IRI-C）、流调中心抑郁量表（CES-D）和友谊质量量表（FQS）分别测量被试的共情、抑郁和同伴关系，共收集了458名成年早期大学生被试的数据。结果发现，共情和抑郁、同伴关系均显著正相关，同伴关系和抑郁显著负相关。在控制性别、年龄后，同伴关系中的冲突维度得分可以调节情绪共情和抑郁间的联系。结果表明，同伴关系对共情和抑郁的联系具有调节作用，高冲突的同伴关系会增强情绪共情和抑郁间的联系，低冲突的同伴关系会削弱情绪共情和抑郁间的联系。

关键词: 共情, 情绪共情, 抑郁, 同伴关系, 调节作用

CLC Number:

B849

YAN Zhiqiang, LI Shan. The Association of Empathy on Depression: The Moderating Effect of Peer-Relationship[J]. Studies of Psychology and Behavior, 2021, 19(3): 424-430.

颜志强, 李珊. 共情和抑郁的关系：同伴关系的调节作用[J]. 心理与行为研究, 2021, 19(3): 424-430.

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