Influences of Impulsivity and Psychological Flexibility on Empathic Abilities: A Quantitative Analysis

Abstract

This study aimed to elucidate the predictive roles of impulsivity and psychological flexibility on empathy. Understanding these relationships could inform interventions to enhance empathic abilities in various populations. Utilizing a cross-sectional design, we analyzed data from 350 participants. Descriptive statistics and multiple linear regression analyses were conducted using SPSS version 25 to examine how impulsivity and psychological flexibility relate to empathy. Our analysis demonstrated that psychological flexibility positively predicts empathy, whereas impulsivity shows a negative correlation. Specifically, the regression model accounted for 35% of the variance in empathy scores, highlighting significant predictive capacities of both impulsivity and psychological flexibility on empathy. The study concludes that empathy can be significantly influenced by levels of impulsivity and psychological flexibility. These findings suggest potential avenues for developing targeted interventions aimed at enhancing empathy through the modulation of these psychological constructs.