Predicting Interpersonal Reactivity Dimensions through the Multifaceted Empathy Test (MET)

Objective: This study aimed to investigate whether empathy components, measured via the Multifaceted Empathy Test (MET), can predict the diverse dimensions of interpersonal reactivity assessed by the Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI).Method: A sample of ۹۲ Iranian adults (Mage = ۲۶.۷, SD = ۳.۹۸; ۷۵% female) completed the MET and the IRI. Four simultaneous multiple linear regression analyses were conducted to predict IRI dimensions (perspective taking, fantasy, empathic concern, and personal distress) from cognitive empathy, positive affective empathy, and negative affective empathy scores derived from the MET.Results: The regression model for Empathic Concern was statistically significant (F = ۲.۹۴, p = .۰۳۷, R۲ = ۰.۰۹۱), driven by a shared, combined predictive effect among empathy components rather than standalone predictors. For perspective taking, the overall model was marginally significant (F = ۲.۶۴, p = .۰۵۴, R۲ = .۰۸۳), with cognitive empathy emerging as a significant positive predictor (𝛽 = .۲۵۶, p = .۰۱۵). In the non-significant fantasy model (F = ۱.۴۷, p = .۲۲۸), positive affective empathy acted as a significant negative individual predictor (𝛽 = -.۲۶۹, p = .۰۴۵). The personal distress model was not significant (F = ۱.۰۵, p = .۳۷۳). Conclusion: The results suggest that these relationships may vary across different dimensions of interpersonal functioning and should be interpreted with caution.

کلیدواژه ها:

empathy ، Multifaceted Empathy Test ، interpersonal reactivity