Empathy In Informal Caregiving: Extension of A Concept from Professional Practice

The concept of empathy was examined In the professional caregiving relationship and its application was extended to the context of informal caregiving. Using the Lazarus and Folkman model, the influence of empathy on the caregiver's experience in the caregiving relationship was illustrated. The effects of the caregiver's empathy on his/her own caregiving outcomes were investigated by examining the relationship between empathy and burnout experience and life satisfaction. Empathy increased emotional exhaustion while increased personal accomplishment and personalization, indicating conflicting relationship between empathy and burnout. This conflict relationship between empathy and burnout can be explained by suggesting the distinct roles of two dimensions of empathy emotional and cognitive. The needs for more research to support the critical roles of empathy in informal caregiving context and to examine the definite roles of two dimensions of empathy were suggested.