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Chilean Version of the Empathy Quotient (EQ) Scale: Adaptation and Psychometric Properties

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  08 April 2021

Ana María Fernández Open the ORCID record for Ana María Fernández [Opens in a new window] ,
Carmen Gloria Baeza ,
Paula Pavez Open the ORCID record for Paula Pavez [Opens in a new window]  and
Nerea Aldunate
Ana María Fernández
Affiliation:
Universidad de Santiago de Chile (Chile)
Carmen Gloria Baeza
Affiliation:
Universidad de Santiago de Chile (Chile)
Paula Pavez
Affiliation:
Universidad de Playa Ancha (Chile)
Nerea Aldunate
Affiliation:
Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile (Chile)
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Abstract

We evaluated the psychometric properties of the empathy quotient (EQ) scale translated to Spanish in Chile. We estimated its structural validity, and its construct validity with other convergent measures of empathy and attachment, as well an inversely associated construct such as aggression. We used a general sample of students and community individuals (n = 336). Participants completed the EQ, Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI), and Buss-Perry Aggression Questionnaire (BPAQ). Another exclusively community group (n = 102) completed Collins Adult Attachment scale and the EQ. CFA and ESEM analyses confirmed the structural model fit of the data to three previously reported dimensions of the EQ: cognitive empathy (CE), emotional reactivity (ER) and social skills (SS). Sex-differences in emotional reactivity, and the predicted relationships with the convergent measures were observed. The current Chilean version of the EQ resulted in an appropriate multidimensional measurement of empathy. Finally, providing a specific social skills dimension extends the traditional conception of cognitive and affective empathy to the social realm in the Chilean context.

Keywords

confirmatory factor analysis/structural equational modelingconstruct validationempathy assessmentindividual differences
Type
Research Article
Information
The Spanish Journal of Psychology , Volume 24 , 2021 , e24
Copyright
© Universidad Complutense de Madrid and Colegio Oficial de Psicólogos de Madrid 2021

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Footnotes

We are grateful to the participants of our study for their valuable contribution to research. We also wish to thank the Psychologists Sebastián Hernández, Yvone Acevedo and Camila Alvarez for their help with data collection.

Conflict of Interest: None.

Funding Statement: This work was supported by University of Santiago (CGB & AMF Project USA 1799 – VRIDEI 031993FT-PAP), and the Government of Chile (AMF, Grant Fondecyt Regular# 1181114, PP Grant Fondecyt Initiation # 11190245, NA Grant Fondecyt Postdoctoral #3170801).

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