A meta-analysis of the relationship between empathy and executive function

PsyCh Journal
Zhiqiang YanYanjie Su

Abstract

The current meta-analysis was designed to determine the relationship between executive function (EF) and empathy, as well as to identify any moderators. A search of Chinese and English databases yielded 18 studies and 67 effect sizes involving a total of 6006 participants. Results with the random effects model showed that EF was significantly positively correlated with empathy (r = .14, p < .001). Subgroup analysis showed that EF was more strongly related to cognitive empathy (r = .20, p < .001) than to affective empathy (r = .09, p = .03). Looking at the two dimensions of empathy, we further found that cognitive empathy is closely related to subcomponents of EF, including inhibitory control (r = .23, p < .001), working memory (r = .20, p < .001), and cognitive flexibility (r = .15, p = .036), while only affective empathy was closely related to inhibitory control (r = .12, p < .001). Results suggested that future research should consider that the relationship between empathy and EF varies depending on the division of specific subcomponents. This finding may help in explaining possible mechanisms of how EF affects empathy.

References

Dec 1, 1972·Journal of Personality·A Mehrabian, N Epstein
Dec 8, 1998·Brain and Cognition·D B BerchE M Huha
Mar 31, 2001·Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, and Allied Disciplines·S Baron-CohenI Plumb
Apr 3, 2001·Annual Review of Neuroscience·E K Miller, J D Cohen
Mar 28, 2002·The Journal of Applied Psychology·Piers D Steel, John D Kammeyer-Mueller
Mar 11, 2003·The Behavioral and Brain Sciences·Stephanie D Preston, Frans B M de Waal
Dec 3, 2003·Trends in Cognitive Sciences·Jean Decety, Jessica A Sommerville
May 28, 2004·Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders·Simon Baron-Cohen, Sally Wheelwright
Apr 13, 2005·The International Journal of Neuroscience·Marcello Spinella
Apr 19, 2007·Aggressive Behavior·Minet de WiedWim H J Meeus
Jun 7, 2007·Annual Review of Psychology·Frans B M de Waal
Nov 9, 2007·Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders·Isabel DziobekAntonio Convit
Jan 16, 2008·Psychological Bulletin·Nancy GaronIsabel M Smith
Apr 3, 2008·Human Brain Mapping·Frank Van Overwalle
Oct 8, 2008·Development and Psychopathology·Jean Decety, Meghan Meyer
Nov 17, 2010·Child Development·John R Best, Patricia H Miller
Aug 27, 2011·Psychiatry Research·Patrizia ThomaIrene Daum
Oct 4, 2011·Annual Review of Psychology·Alan Baddeley
Feb 24, 2012·Journal of Affective Disorders·Nan WuYanjie Su
May 19, 2012·Science·Frans B M de Waal
Jun 12, 2012·Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience·Jean Decety, Margarita Svetlova
Oct 2, 2012·Annual Review of Psychology·Adele Diamond
Nov 1, 1997·Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience·B J CaseyJ L Rapoport
Jan 28, 2014·Journal of Physiological Anthropology·Damee Choi, Shigeki Watanuki
Feb 19, 2014·Journal of the American College of Nutrition·Kala SundararajanSisira Sarma
Apr 23, 2014·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·Evan L MacLeanYini Zhao
May 16, 2014·Aging & Mental Health·Oksana ZeBoris Suchan
Jan 4, 2015·Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience·Fei Xin, Xu Lei
Jul 16, 2015·Psychonomic Bulletin & Review·Zaifeng GaoAnat Perry
Dec 9, 2015·Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological Sciences·Jean DecetyAriel Knafo-Noam
Feb 18, 2016·Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders·Elif GökçenK V Petrides
Apr 14, 2016·Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews·Pascal MolenberghsJason B Mattingley
Dec 6, 2016·Trends in Cognitive Sciences·Paul Bloom
Dec 28, 2016·Trends in Cognitive Sciences·Paul Bloom
Jan 17, 2017·Psychiatry Research. Neuroimaging·Evan J White, DeMond M Grant
Mar 21, 2017·Journal of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology : the Official Journal for the Society of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology, American Psychological Association, Division 53·Adrian Raine, Frances R Chen
Jun 29, 2017·Nature Reviews. Neuroscience·Frans B M de Waal, Stephanie D Preston
Jul 14, 2017·Infant and Child Development·Heqing HuangJian Jin

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

Dec 29, 2020·Frontiers in Human Neuroscience·Teodora Stoica, Brendan Depue
Apr 24, 2021·Journal of Experimental Child Psychology·Kelli L Dickerson, Jodi A Quas
May 29, 2021·Frontiers in Psychology·Xiao Wu, Xuejing Lu
Oct 10, 2021·Journal of Youth and Adolescence·Sarah GarciaC K John Wang

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.