THE DEVELOPMENT OF AN EMPATHY SCALE FOR EARLY ADOLESCENT STUDENTS AND THE ENHANCEMENT OF EMPATHY THROUGH INTEGRATIVE GROUP COUNSELING MODEL

Abstract

This research aimed to explore the structure of empathy among early adolescents and develop an intervention to enhance it. The objectives were to: (1) identify the components of empathy; (2) examine the construct validity of the empathy measurement model; (3) develop an integrative group counseling model to foster empathy; and (4) compare empathy levels before, after, and at follow-up between students who received counseling and those who did not. The research was conducted in two stages. In the first stage, a mixed-methods approach was employed, incorporating Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) with 574 students aged 10–14 years, followed by Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) and norm development with a sample of 394 students. The final empathy scale comprised three components: cognitive empathy, emotional empathy, and compassionate empathy. In the second stage, a quasi-experimental design was applied. Students with low levels of empathy were randomly assigned to an experimental group (n = 8) or a control group. The experimental group participated in an integrative group counseling program informed by multiple theoretical frameworks and structured into three stages: initial, working, and termination. The findings confirmed the construct validity of the scale and revealed statistically significant differences in empathy levels between the experimental and control groups.

-