TY - JOUR
T1 - Which Aspects of Parenting Predict the Development of Empathic Concern During Infancy?
AU - Orlitsky, Tal
AU - Davidov, Maayan
AU - Paz, Yael
AU - Roth-Hanania, Ronit
AU - Berger, Maia Ram
AU - Yizhar, Lital
AU - Shiller, Liad
AU - Zahn-Waxler, Carolyn
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2024 The Author(s). Developmental Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
PY - 2024
Y1 - 2024
N2 - This study examined which parenting behaviors predict the development of infants’ empathic concern for others in distress. We distinguished between three forms of sensitive/responsive parenting: mothers' responsiveness to infant distress, their responsiveness to the infant's nondistress cues, and maternal expression of positive affect and affection in nondistress. Although in prior work these parenting behaviors were frequently combined, or subsumed under a single global construct, such as “sensitive responsiveness”, the three forms of parenting are theoretically distinct. We hypothesized that once all three were examined simultaneously, only responsiveness to distress would emerge as a unique predictor of empathy. A sample of 165 Israeli infants (50% girls) was assessed from 3 to 18 months. Parenting measures were coded from mother–infant interactions at 3 and 6 months, and infants’ empathic concern was assessed using three distressed stimuli at ages 3, 6, 12, and 18 months. Path analysis models revealed that, consistent with the hypothesis, only responsiveness to distress uniquely predicted infants' subsequent empathic concern, over and above the other forms of parenting and preexisting empathy levels; conversely, being responsive or affectionate when infants were not distressed did not predict their empathic abilities. The findings underscore the importance of differentiating between theoretically distinct forms of parenting, even when they are correlated. The discussion addresses the role of responsiveness to infants’ distress in the early development of empathic capacity, and highlights avenues for future research.
AB - This study examined which parenting behaviors predict the development of infants’ empathic concern for others in distress. We distinguished between three forms of sensitive/responsive parenting: mothers' responsiveness to infant distress, their responsiveness to the infant's nondistress cues, and maternal expression of positive affect and affection in nondistress. Although in prior work these parenting behaviors were frequently combined, or subsumed under a single global construct, such as “sensitive responsiveness”, the three forms of parenting are theoretically distinct. We hypothesized that once all three were examined simultaneously, only responsiveness to distress would emerge as a unique predictor of empathy. A sample of 165 Israeli infants (50% girls) was assessed from 3 to 18 months. Parenting measures were coded from mother–infant interactions at 3 and 6 months, and infants’ empathic concern was assessed using three distressed stimuli at ages 3, 6, 12, and 18 months. Path analysis models revealed that, consistent with the hypothesis, only responsiveness to distress uniquely predicted infants' subsequent empathic concern, over and above the other forms of parenting and preexisting empathy levels; conversely, being responsive or affectionate when infants were not distressed did not predict their empathic abilities. The findings underscore the importance of differentiating between theoretically distinct forms of parenting, even when they are correlated. The discussion addresses the role of responsiveness to infants’ distress in the early development of empathic capacity, and highlights avenues for future research.
KW - empathy
KW - infancy
KW - parenting
KW - responsiveness to distress
KW - sensitivity
KW - warmth
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85205919507&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1111/desc.13566
DO - 10.1111/desc.13566
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C2 - 39377585
AN - SCOPUS:85205919507
SN - 1363-755X
JO - Developmental Science
JF - Developmental Science
ER -