Comparing evolution of empathy in 5 to 11 years old children with internalizing disorders

Children with internalizing disorders have less empathy. The aim of this study was to compare the evolution of empathy in 5 to 11 years old children with internalizing disorders. The study method was descriptive, causal-comparative. The statistical population of study included all 5- 11 years old children of Tabriz city, to this end, 150 preschool and school boys and girls aged 5-11 years old of Tabriz city were selected with simple random sampling from five different departments of Education. Thus, five age groups including 5 years old, 6 years old, 7 years old, 9 years old and 11 years old were selected that each group included 30 patients (15 girls and 15 boys). Children Symptom Inventory (CSI) and empathy scales were used as data collection tools. ANOVA and Tukey test were used for statistical analysis. Study results showed that 5-11 years old children are different in terms of empathy evolution. Tukey test showed that the difference is between two age groups of 5 and 6 years old and 7, 9 and 11 years old and also, between age groups of 7 and 9 years old and 11 years old. Meanwhile, 5-11 years old children have significant differences with each other in internal disorders. Tukey test results showed that the difference is between two age groups of 5 and 6 years old and 7, 9 and 11 years old and also, between age groups of 7 and 9 years old and 11 years old. Thus, increasing empathy, the amount of internalizing disorders reduced.

empathy, internalized disorders, children