title: Employed Carers' Empathy Towards People with Intellectual Disabilities: The Development of a New Measure and Some Initial Theory.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study aimed to develop a self-report measure of paid caregivers' empathy towards people with intellectual disabilities.
  
  
  METHODS
  Following questionnaire develop-ment, 194 staff working in services for people with intellectual disabilities completed self-report questionnaires, including the new empathy measure. The measure's factor structure and psychometric properties were investigated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A three factor solution suggested two key processes in empathizing: experiencing commonality between one's own and people with intellectual disabilities' psychological experiences and efforts to attune to their internal worlds. The final factor represented whether carers find it challenging to empathize. Correlations with beliefs about the self and others in caregiving relationships provided initial evidence of validity, although further investigation is needed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The most salient processes in empathizing with people with intellectual disabilities may be different from empathy in other contexts. Establishing determinants of carer empathy may facilitate the development of psychological interventions to promote and enhance this important quality.
authors.affiliation: Canterbury Christchurch University, Tunbridge Wells, UK.
authors.forename: Kirsten
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Collins
authors.affiliation: Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust, Dartford, UK.
authors.forename: Caroline
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gratton
authors.affiliation: Canterbury Christchurch University, Tunbridge Wells, UK.
authors.forename: Celia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Heneage
authors.affiliation: Cumbria Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, Penrith, UK.
authors.forename: Dave
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Dagnan
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D004645:Empathy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008607:Intellectual Disability / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011582:Psychological Theory; D011594:Psychometrics / Q000295:instrumentation*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: attachment; empathy; intellectual disabilities; questionnaire; staff