Cognitive and affective empathy in younger and older individuals

• Published in: Aging & mental health Vol. 18; no. 7; pp. 929 - 935
• Main Authors: Ze, Oksana, Thoma, Patrizia, Suchan, Boris
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Routledge 03.10.2014
• Subjects: Adult; Affect - physiology; affective perspective taking; Age Factors; Age groups; Aged; Ageing; Cognition; Cognition - physiology; Dysfunction; emotion recognition; empathic concern; Empathy; Empathy - physiology; Executive function; Executive Function - physiology; Female; Flexibility; fronto-temporal circuits; Humans; Inhibitory processes; lifespan; Male; Mental health; Middle Aged; Selfreport; Young Adult; fronto-temporal circuits; affective perspective taking; emotion recognition; lifespan; empathic concern
• ISSN: 1360-7863; 1364-6915
• DOI: 10.1080/13607863.2014.899973

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