According to a recent study led by researchers from Penn State College of Health and Human Development, children who are more empathetic might experience worse health outcomes when faced with interparental conflict compared to less empathetic children.
The study, conducted by Hannah Schreier, an associate professor, and published in the journal Brain, Behavior, and Immunity, looked at data from 106 children aged 7 to 9 and their parents in the Family Foundations program led by Mark Feinberg, a research professor.
Observing conflict between parents can be stressful for children in this age group, leading to negative physiological reactions, as Schreier explains. The study assessed the children’s empathy levels, perception of interparental conflict, and overall health through surveys and blood samples.
The analysis of C-reactive protein (CRP) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels in blood samples revealed that more empathetic children had higher levels of CRP, indicating increased chronic inflammation and poorer parental-reported health when exposed to interparental conflict.
Despite being more empathetic, these children did not report higher levels of conflict in the home, showing that even daily conflict without violence can impact their health negatively.
Results suggest the importance of addressing individual needs concerning empathy and conflict in both home and school environments, especially for younger children, as emphasized by Schreier.
Understanding boundaries and finding a balance between empathy and self-care could be crucial in ensuring positive health outcomes for empathetic children, highlighting the need for tailored educational approaches based on individual requirements.
Empathy, while seen as a positive trait, can also have adverse effects on health, according to the researchers, underscoring the importance of considering the impact of being excessively empathetic on one’s well-being.
Contributors to this research include Jennifer Graham-Engeland, Damon Jones, Aishwarya Ganguli, and Caitlin Givens, with funding from the National Institutes of Health.
