Structural analysis of the E-scale

Empathy is the effort to identify with persons in fictitious or real-life situations and is measured here by the E-Scale of Leibetseder et al. (2001). The present study tests its psychometric features and explores whether both dimensions of this scale – “sensitivity” (= empathy with fictitious situations) and “concern” (= empathy with real-life-situations) – can be reproduced in an independent sample. The scale was administered to an ad hoc general population sample of 972 subjects. Its dimensionality is explored by using confirmatory factor analysis and reliability analysis. Moreover, convergent and construct validity are studied in additional samples. Contrary to the original form, four correlated specific factors and one general factor were found. The specific factors were named “cognitive-sensitivity”, “emotional-sensitivity”, “emotional-concern” and “cognitive-concern” and resulted from an interaction of the two basic dimensions of the scale: the reality status of the situation (real-life vs. fictitious) and the mediation mode of empathy (cognitive vs. emotional). The E-Scale is a psychometrically sound and valid instrument for the assessment of empathic traits.