New publication on empathy, stress, and negative affect

Together with researchers from Würzburg, Freiburg, Berlin, and Cambridge, Annika Konrad, Katharina Förster, and  Philipp Kanske investigated complex risk combinations of cognitive and affective functioning that are relevant for internalizing symptoms. The current study aimed to disentangle the interplay of empathy, compassion, and theory of mind (ToM) with negative thinking processes and internalizing symptoms such as stress and negative affect. Results showed that individuals with lower self-reported ToM and higher empathic distress may be at risk for more internalizing symptoms. Both very low and high levels of empathy- and ToM-related brain activity were associated with stress and negative affect and moderated by negative thinking processes. These quadratic interactions indicate complex relationships among empathy, ToM, and mental health.

The publication can be found here.