Reliability and validity of the korean version of the empathy quotient scale.
OBJECTIVE
The Empathy Quotient (EQ) is a self-reported test developed by Baron-Cohen et al. (2004) to measure the cognitive and affective aspects of empathy. The purpose of this study was to develop a Korean version of EQ and to establish its psychometric properties based on a representative Korean sample.


METHODS
The Korean version of EQ and its correspondence with another popular measure of empathy, the Korean version of the Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI), were evaluated in a sample of 478 volunteers (156 men, 322 women; mean age, 27.2 years). A test-retest study was conducted at 1 month on a selected sample of 20 subjects from the original sample. Correlation and confirmatory factor analyses were conducted.


RESULTS
The test-retest reliability was good, and the internal consistency was acceptable (Cronbach's alpha=0.78). Positive correlations were found between the EQ and three subfactors of the IRI, perspective taking, empathic concern, and fantasy, and the total EQ score was negatively correlated with the personal distress subscale. The confirmatory analyses suggested that the three-factor structure offered a good fit to the data.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings support the reliability and validity of the Korean version of the EQ.
Kim
Juhee
J
Department of Psychiatry, Kyungpook National University School of Medicine, Daegu, Korea.
Lee
Seung Jae
SJ
J Autism Dev Disord. 2004 Apr;34(2):163-75
15162935
J Consult Clin Psychol. 1969 Jun;33(3):307-16
4389335
J Pers Soc Psychol. 1991 Sep;61(3):413-26
1941512
Can J Psychiatry. 2008 Jul;53(7):469-77
18674405
J Child Psychol Psychiatry. 1992 Jul;33(5):813-42
1634591
Annu Rev Psychol. 2000;51:665-97
10751984
Psychol Bull. 1977 Jul;84(4):712-22
897032
Behav Brain Sci. 2002 Feb;25(1):1-20; discussion 20-71
12625087
Psychol Med. 2004 Jul;34(5):911-9
15500311
Behav Cogn Neurosci Rev. 2004 Jun;3(2):71-100
15537986
Encephale. 2002 Jan-Feb;28(1):9-20
11963348
J Pers. 1972 Dec;40(4):525-43
4642390
J Autism Dev Disord. 2007 Nov;37(10):1823-32
17180457