Empathy as a Predicting Factor of Stress Contagion Susceptibility

Empathy allows individuals to understand and resonate with others’ emotions, while stress contagion occurs when one person’s stress triggers a stress response in another. Although each construct has been studied independently, little research has examined their potential interaction. This study sought to investigate whether trait empathy predicts susceptibility to stress contagion. Sixty-two participants completed the Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI), Stress Numerical Rating Scale (SNRS), State-trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), listened to either a stressed or neutral speaker audio clip, or completed post-viewing self-report and physiological assessments. Changes in skin conductance were used to index physiological stress responses. A linear mixed-effects model revealed a significant three-way interaction between time, condition, and empathy. Specifically, individuals high in trait empathy exhibited greater changes in physiological stress response from pre to post stimulus. This research deepens our understanding of how dispositional empathy influences emotional transmission, with potential applications in clinical, educational, and occupational settings.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Psychological Science

Grantor

Texas Woman's University

Year dc:date.issued

2025

Author dc:creator

• Meeks, Jessica

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Rivers, Alannah

Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember

• Terrizzi Jr., John A
• Zhang, Hansong

• Stress contagion
• Empathy

Language dc:language.iso

English

Handle dc:identifier.uri

https://hdl.handle.net/11274/17407

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:twu-ir.tdl.org:11274/17407