The Development and Validation of the Empathy Components Questionnaire (ECQ)

Key research suggests that empathy is a multidimensional construct comprising of both cognitive and affective components. More recent theories and research suggest even further factors within these components of empathy, including the ability to empathize with others versus the drive towards empathizing with others. While numerous self-report measures have been developed to examine empathy, none of them currently index all of these wider components together. The aim of the present research was to develop and validate the Empathy Components Questionnaire (ECQ) to measure cognitive and affective components, as well as ability and drive components within each. Study one utilized items measuring cognitive and affective empathy taken from various established questionnaires to create an initial version of the ECQ. Principal component analysis (PCA) was used to examine the underlying components of empathy within the ECQ in a sample of 101 typical adults. Results revealed a five-component model consisting of cognitive ability, cognitive drive, affective ability, affective drive, and a fifth factor assessing affective reactivity. This five-component structure was then validated and confirmed using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) in an independent sample of 211 typical adults. Results also showed that females scored higher than males overall on the ECQ, and on specific components, which is consistent with previous findings of a female advantage on self-reported empathy. Findings also showed certain components predicted scores on an independent measure of social behavior, which provided good convergent validity of the ECQ. Together, these findings validate the newly developed ECQ as a multidimensional measure of empathy more in-line with current theories of empathy. The ECQ provides a useful new tool for quick and easy measurement of empathy and its components for research with both healthy and clinical populations

Comportement du chrome et de l'arsenic dans une nappe libre sous un site industriel

Cette étude a porté sur l'identification des mécanismes géochimiques qui régissent le comportement de l'As et du Cr dans un aquifère de surface sous un site industriel (production d'acide sulfurique et de sulfate de cuivre). Trois approches ont été confrontées : une étude de terrain (réseau piézomètrique et carottages), des expériences en laboratoire (batch et colonne) et la modélisation géochimique (logiciel PHREEQC). La zone polluée du site est caractérisée par une forte acidité et des concentrations en Cu, As et Cr élevées. L'écoulement des eaux de la zone polluée vers la périphérie du site s'accompagne d'une augmentation du pH grâce à la dissolution des carbonates. Ce pouvoir tampon acido-basique des solides favorise la rétention de l'As et du Cr (pH proches de 7 et sans chélate). L'adsorption sur des hydroxydes de fer et la précipitation ont été mises en évidence. Le Cr précipiterait sous forme d'hydroxyde et l'As sous forme de coprécipité avec le FeIII et d'arséniates de cuivre.The main goal of this work is to identify the geochemical mechanisms controlling the solubility and mobility of As and Cr in a superficial aquifer under an industrial plant (production of sulphuric acid and copper sulphate. In this context, we used three approaches: water and solids sampling campaigns, laboratory experiments (batch and column experiments) and geochemical modelling (software PHREEQC). The contaminated zone is characterised by high concentrations of Cu, As and Cr and a strong acidic water. The unpolluted area is characterised by neutral to basic pH and low concentrations of elements. This neutral pH is probably due to carbonate dissolution. The buffer capacity of the solids induce the As and Cr sorption in the medium (especially in lack of chelating agent). The As and Cr solubility seems to be controlled by precipitation and adsorption onto iron hydroxides. Cr seems to precipitate in form of hydroxide and As in form of coprecipitate with Fe(III) and copper arsenates.PAU-BU Sciences (644452103) / SudocSudocFranceF