The Effects of an Empathy Ability Improvement Program on Empathy Ability and Parenting Efficacy among Mothers of Elementary School Students

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: This study examined the effects of an empathy ability improvement program on empathy ability and parenting efficacy among mothers of elementary school students. METHODS: This was a quasi-experimental study using a pre-test/post-test control group design. The experimental group (n=23) completed an empathy ability improvement program, while 22 mothers were assigned to the control group. Pre-test and post-test analyses were conducted using the empathy ability scale and parenting efficacy scale. The data were analyzed using the χ2 test and test independent t-test. RESULTS: The experimental group showed a statistically significant improvement in empathy ability (t=2.79, d=4.48, p=.008) and parenting efficacy (t=2.87, d=0.89, p=.006) in comparison to the control group. CONCLUSION: The results of this study indicate that empathy education may be effective for improving empathy ability and parenting efficacy in mothers of school-age children.