Abstract

SAMPAIO, Leonardo Rodrigues  and  CAMINO, Cleonice Pereira dos Santos. Construction of the Multidimensional Empathy Scale for Adults and evaluation of its psychometric properties. Aval. psicol. [online]. 2023, vol.22, n.1, pp.82-91.  Epub May 03, 2024. ISSN 1677-0471.  https://doi.org/10.15689/ap.2023.2201.22943.09.

The aim of this work was to construct the Multidimensional Empathy Scale for Adults (MESA) and to evaluate indicators of validity and reliability for this instrument. Based on Martin Hoffman’s theory and previous research, 67 items were elaborated to evaluate five dimensions of empathy. After testing the semantic and content validity, a version of the MESA with 31 items and the Interpersonal Reactivity Index by Davis (1983) were administered to 541 adults. Exploratory Factor Analysis indicated a solution of three factors, which grouped 30 items of the MESA, and explained around 52% of the total observed variance. Indicators of reliability and of convergent validity for the MESA were found. Gender differences in empathy scores were identified. Results indicate that the MESA is appropriate for measuring empathy in adults, advancing in relation to other instruments available in Brazil as this scale encompasses different types of empathic feelings, in addition to those traditionally evaluated in the field.

Keywords : empathy; scale; adults; multidimensionality; validity indicators.

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