Neural correlates of compassion - An integrative systematic review

Compassion is a psychological construct that has received increasing attention in recent years. Even though a lot of work has been done to identify neural correlates of empathy across studies, such work has not been properly done on neural correlates of compassion. Therefore, the aim was to systematically review the literature on neural correlates of compassion.We have searched through PsycINFO, PubMed and Web of Science for relevant articles published between 1985 and 2020. We included the studies (n = 35) examining the relationship between brain structure or function and compassion. Screening was performed by two authors, between whom a level of agreement was calculated. The quality of the studies was assessed by measures used in other studies as well by measures specific for our study aims. This study was conducted under PRISMA guidelines.Our analysis revealed that the most frequent neural associations with compassion across all analysed studies can be found in the orbital part of the left inferior frontal gyrus, in the right cerebellum, the bilateral middle temporal gyrus, in the bilateral insula and the right caudate nucleus.Our findings suggest that people displaying a lower compassion tend to have either lower neural activity or a grey matter volume in neural areas associated with reward

„Ne mogu te razumjeti jer ne mogu razumjeti sebe”: povezanost aleksitimije, pretjerane upotrebe društvenih mreža, empatije i teorije uma

Social media represent a relatively new phenomenon affecting the lives of people across the globe. Recently, the number of social media users reached billions, and this number increases every year. Previous studies indicated that excessive social media use may have adverse effects on mental and physical health. Therefore, it is important to explore what psychological factors may contribute to the excessive use of social media. It was found that social anxiety and alexithymia are robust predictors of excessive social media use. However, little is known about the role of empathy and Theory of Mind (ToM) in excessive social media use. Therefore, the primary aim of this study was to examine the mediating effect of empathy and ToM in the relationship between alexithymia and social anxiety. Collectively, 1737 subjects participated in the study (Mage = 25.28, SDage = 10, Females: 60.83%). We assessed empathy, social anxiety, ToM, loneliness, and excessive social media use. Structural Equation Modelling was used to test the mediating effect of empathy and ToM. It was revealed that there is a positive relationship between difficulty in identifying feelings (alexithymia) and social anxiety: B = 0.53 (95% CI [0.41 – 0.65], p < .001). Moreover, a significant positive association was found between social anxiety and excessive social media use: B = 0.28, 95% CI [0.14 – 0.37], p < 0.001. However, loneliness was unrelated to social media use. Similarly, there was no significant mediating effect of empathy and ToM on the link between difficulty in identifying feelings and social anxiety. Future research should examine the generalizability of our findings using different cultural/linguistic environments. The primary limitation of the study is the use of cross-sectional data which prevent to draw causal links between the explored relationships.Društvene su mreže relativno nov fenomen koji utječe na živote ljudi diljem svijeta. Broj korisnika društvenih mreža nedavno je dosegao milijarde, a ta se brojka svake godine povećava. Rezultati prijašnjih istraživanja pokazali su da pretjerano korištenje društvenih mreža može imati negativne učinke na mentalno i fizičko zdravlje. Stoga je važno istražiti koji psihološki čimbenici mogu pridonijeti pretjeranomu korištenju društvenih mreža. Socijalna anksioznost i aleksitimija snažni su prediktori pretjeranoga korištenja društvenih mreža, međutim, malo se zna o ulozi empatije i teorije uma u pretjeranome korištenju društvenih mreža. Stoga je primarni cilj ovoga istraživanja bio ispitati medijacijski učinak empatije i teorija uma u odnosu između aleksitimije i socijalne anksioznosti. Sudjelovalo je ukupno 1737 ispitanika (Mdobi = 25.28, SDdobi = 10.00; 60.83 % žena). Sudionici su dali svoje procjene na mjerama empatije, socijalne anksioznosti, teorije uma, usamljenosti i pretjerane upotrebe društvenih mreža. Medijatorski efekti empatije i teorije uma provjereni su pomoću strukturalnoga modeliranja. Dobivena je pozitivna povezanost između poteškoća u identificiranju osjećaja (aleksitimija) i socijalne anksioznosti: B = 0.53 (95 % CI [0.41 – 0.65], p < .001). Također, utvrđena je značajna pozitivna povezanost između socijalne anksioznosti i pretjeranoga korištenja društvenih mreža: B = 0.28, 95 % CI [0.14 – 0.37], p < .001; dok usamljenost nije bila povezana s korištenjem društvenih mreža. Slično tomu, nije dobiven značajan medijatorski efekt empatije i teorije uma na vezu između poteškoća u identificiranju osjećaja i socijalne anksioznosti. Buduća bi istraživanja trebala ispitati mogućnost generalizacije dobivenih rezultata u različitim kulturnim/jezičnim okruženjima. Primarno ograničenje provedenoga istraživanja proizlazi iz presječnoga nacrta koji onemogućava stvaranje uzročno-posljedičnih odnosa između istraženih konstrukata

A Czech version of the Overall Anxiety Severity and Impairment Scale (OASIS):standardization and psychometric properties

BACKGROUND: The Overall Anxiety Severity and Impairment Scale (OASIS) is a transdiagnostic measure that assesses severity and impairment associated with anxiety disorders. However, its psychometric properties were primarily examined in English-speaking or western countries. Therefore, this study aims to examine its psychometric parameters in the Czech Republic. METHODS: A large representative sample (n = 1738), a clinical sample (n = 57) and a retest sample (n = 20) were used. In addition to the OASIS, conventional measures of anxiety, depression, personality traits, self-esteem, life satisfaction, and other scales were also administered. Moreover, we examined the latent structure, reliability, validity, and the cut-off score for the Reliable Change Index (RCI) and the Clinically Significant Change Index (CSI). RESULTS: Higher anxiety was found in females, religious non-church members, and students. The Confirmatory Factor Analysis supported the adequate fit of the unidimensional solution: x2(4) = 3.20; p < 0.525; CFI = 1.000; TLI = 1.000;RMSEA = 0, SRMR = 0. The measurement equivalence examination indicated that the OASIS measures anxiety invariantly between males and females. The validity of the OASIS was supported by positive associations with neuroticism, depression, perceived stress, guilt, shame, and the established anxiety measures. The internal consistency was excellent (Cronbach’s alpha = 0.96, McDonald’s omega = 0.96). The test-retest reliability was acceptable (r = 0.66). The cut-off for the CSI is 6 and the RCI is 5.32. CONCLUSIONS: The OASIS represents a reliable and valid instrument for assessing anxiety in adults. Due to its shortness, excellent psychometric properties, and percentile norms, it is especially useful for short and accurate screening of anxiety and mapping therapeutic changes in clinical practice. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12888-022-04365-5

Psychometric Analysis of the Czech Version of the Toronto Empathy Questionnaire

Empathy is a concept associated with various positive outcomes. However, to measure such a multifaceted concept, valid and reliable tools are needed. Negatively worded items (NWIs) are suspected to decrease some psychometric parameters of assessment instruments, which complicates the research of empathy. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess the factor structure and validity of the TEQ on the Czech population, including the influence of the NWIs. Data were collected from three surveys. In total, 2239 Czech participants were included in our study. Along with socio-demographic information, we measured empathy, neuroticism, spirituality, self-esteem, compassion and social desirability. NWI in general yielded low communalities, factor loadings and decreased internal consistency. Therefore, in the next steps, we tested the model consisting of their positively reformulated versions. A higher empathy was found in females, married and religious individuals. We further found positive associations between empathy, compassion and spirituality. After the sample was split in half, exploratory factor analysis of the model with reformulated items was followed by confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), which supported a unidimensional solution with good internal consistency: Cronbach's α = 0.85 and McDonald's ω = 0.85. The CFA indicated an acceptable fit χ2 (14) = 83.630; p &lt; 0.001; CFI = 0.997; TLI = 0.995; RMSEA = 0.070; SRMR = 0.037. The Czech version of the TEQ is a valid and reliable tool for the assessment of empathy. The use of NWIs in Czech or in a similar language environment seems to be questionable and their rewording may represent a more reliable approach.</p

Psychometric Analysis of the Czech Version of the Toronto Empathy Questionnaire

Empathy is a concept associated with various positive outcomes. However, to measure such a multifaceted concept, valid and reliable tools are needed. Negatively worded items (NWIs) are suspected to decrease some psychometric parameters of assessment instruments, which complicates the research of empathy. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess the factor structure and validity of the TEQ on the Czech population, including the influence of the NWIs. Data were collected from three surveys. In total, 2239 Czech participants were included in our study. Along with socio-demographic information, we measured empathy, neuroticism, spirituality, self-esteem, compassion and social desirability. NWI in general yielded low communalities, factor loadings and decreased internal consistency. Therefore, in the next steps, we tested the model consisting of their positively reformulated versions. A higher empathy was found in females, married and religious individuals. We further found positive associations between empathy, compassion and spirituality. After the sample was split in half, exploratory factor analysis of the model with reformulated items was followed by confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), which supported a unidimensional solution with good internal consistency: Cronbach's α = 0.85 and McDonald's ω = 0.85. The CFA indicated an acceptable fit χ2 (14) = 83.630; p < 0.001; CFI = 0.997; TLI = 0.995; RMSEA = 0.070; SRMR = 0.037. The Czech version of the TEQ is a valid and reliable tool for the assessment of empathy. The use of NWIs in Czech or in a similar language environment seems to be questionable and their rewording may represent a more reliable approach

Psychometric evaluation of the Santa Clara Brief Compassion Scale in the Czech environment (SCBCS)

There is growing research on compassion in many fields of social science. However, there are no standardized instruments for measuring compassion in the Czech environment. Therefore, the aim of this study was to psychometrically evaluate the Santa Clara Brief Compassion Scale (SCBCS) in Czech Republic. Sample of 572 Czech respondents (mean age 28.9 years; 36.7 % men) participated in the study. Compassion, spirituality and religiosity, together with basic socio-demographic information, were measured. The non-parametric comparison of different sociodemographic groups showed a higher level of compassion among women, among respondents living in marriage, and among religious respondents. The Confirmatory Factor Analysis showed a good fit of a one-factor model with the data, with χ² (5)=58.9; p &lt; .001; TLI=0.98; CFI=0.99; SRMR=0.058. The scale has a good internal consistency with Cronbach’s α=0.84 and McDonald’s ω=0.89. The Czech version of the SCBCS is a reliable measure for assessing compassion

A Czech version of the Overall Anxiety Severity and Impairment Scale (OASIS): Standardization and psychometric properties

Background - The Overall Anxiety Severity and Impairment Scale (OASIS) is a transdiagnostic measure that assesses severity and impairment associated with anxiety disorders. However, its psychometric properties were primarily examined in English-speaking or western countries. Therefore, this study aims to examine its psychometric parameters in the Czech Republic. Methods - A large representative sample (n=1769), a clinical sample (n=60) and a retest sample (n=20) were used. In addition to the OASIS, conventional measures of anxiety, depression, personality traits, self-esteem, life satisfaction, and other scales were also administered. Moreover, we examined the latent structure, reliability, validity, and the cut-off score for the Reliable Change Index (RCI) and the Clinically Significant Change Index (CSI). Results - Higher anxiety was found in females, religious non-church members, and students. The Confirmatory Factor Analysis supported the adequate fit of the unidimensional solution: x2(4)=3.20; p&lt;0.525; CFI=1.000; TLI=1.000;RMSEA=0, SRMR=0. The measurement equivalence examination indicated that the OASIS measures anxiety invariantly between males and females. The validity of the OASIS was supported by positive associations with neuroticism, depression, perceived stress, guilt, shame, and the established anxiety measures. The internal consistency was excellent (Cronbach’s alpha=0.96, McDonald’s omega=0.96). The test-retest reliability was acceptable (r=0.66). The cut-off for the CSI is 6 and the RCI is 5.32. Limitations - The main limitation is the use of self-report questionnaires for validity testing and lower test-retest reliability. Conclusions - The OASIS represents a reliable and valid instrument for assessing anxiety. Due to its shortness, excellent psychometric properties and percentile norms, it is especially useful for short and accurate screening of anxiety and mapping therapeutic changes in clinical practice