Author(s)

Damee Choi^1,2*, Natsumi Minote³, Takahiro Sekiya³, Shigeki Watanuki¹

¹Faculty of Design, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan.
²Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, Tokyo, Japan.
³Graduate School of Integrated Frontier Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan.

The Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI) is a commonly used instrument for measuring individual differences in trait empathy. It is composed of the following four subscales: Perspective taking; fantasy; empathic concern; and personal distress. Previous studies have reported finding a positive relationship between psychological well-being and perspective taking, but little remains known about the association between psychological well-being and the other IRI subscales. Therefore in this study, we investigated the degree to which each IRI subscale could predict psychological well-being, which was measured using Ryff’s Psychological Well-Being Scales, in 119 Japanese undergraduate and graduate students (43 females, 76 males; mean age: 22 years; age range: 19 - 25 years). Regression analysis revealed that perspective taking positively predicted personal growth, purpose in life, and environmental mastery, while personal distress negatively predicted autonomy, environmental mastery, and self-acceptance. Neither fantasy nor empathic concern predicted psychological well-being. These results support those found in previous studies, and suggest that perspective taking, a cognitive component of empathy, plays an important role in the improvement of psychological well-being.

Empathy, Psychological Well-Being, Interpersonal Reactivity Index, Perspective Taking, Personal Distress

Choi, D. , Minote, N. , Sekiya, T. and Watanuki, S. (2016) Relationships between Trait Empathy and Psychological Well-Being in Japanese University Students. Psychology, 7, 1240-1247. doi: 10.4236/psych.2016.79126.