Department of Human Development and Family Sciences, The University of Texas at Austin.
Institute for Social Research, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.
J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci. 2020 Sep 14;75(8):1648-1657. doi: 10.1093/geronb/gbz044.
Older adults with stronger social ties often lead longer, healthier, and happier lives, but these ties may differ based on older adults' ability to share and understand others' emotions (i.e., empathy). This study asked how empathy was associated with the way that older adults construct and engage in their social worlds.
We drew on the Daily Experiences and Well-being Study to examine how older adults' empathy was associated with the structure (e.g., network size and contact), function (e.g., support), and quality (e.g., affection and conflict) of their close social ties. Participants (N = 333) self-rated empathy and listed their social partners using three concentric convoy circles.
Empathy was not associated with older adults' social network structure, but more empathic older adults exchanged support with more social partners and reported greater affection for their social partners. We did not observe a significant link between older adults' empathy and conflict with social partners.
Examining empathy advances our understanding of individual differences in older adults' close social ties. This study suggests that empathy may play a promising role with regard to promoting older adults' social experiences and strengthening their close ties.
社会联系较强的老年人往往能活得更长、更健康、更幸福，但这些联系可能因老年人分享和理解他人情绪的能力（即同理心）而有所不同。本研究探讨了同理心与老年人构建和参与社交世界的方式有何关联。
我们利用日常经历和幸福感研究，考察了老年人的同理心如何与其亲密社交关系的结构（例如，网络规模和接触）、功能（例如，支持）和质量（例如，感情和冲突）相关。参与者（N=333）自我评估同理心，并使用三个同心的随行圆圈列出他们的社交伙伴。
同理心与老年人的社交网络结构无关，但更具同理心的老年人与更多的社交伙伴交流支持，并对他们的社交伙伴有更多的感情。我们没有观察到老年人的同理心与与社交伙伴的冲突之间有显著联系。
考察同理心可以增进我们对老年人亲密社交关系中个体差异的理解。本研究表明，同理心在促进老年人的社交体验和加强他们的亲密关系方面可能发挥着有希望的作用。
