Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39738563›Full record

ArticlePediatric research2025

Maternal cognitive and affective empathy related to preschoolers' emotional-behavioral problems: moderation of maternal depression.

Zichen Zhang, Yujiao Deng, Tingyu Rong, Yiding Gui, Yunting Zhang, Jin Zhao, Wenjie Shan, Qi Zhu, Guanghai Wang, Fan Jiang

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Article in Pediatric research, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

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3 · Its place in the literature

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2 citing papers in PubMed.

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4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

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10 authors.

Zichen Zhang *Department of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, Shanghai Children's Medical Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
Yujiao Deng *Department of Neurology, Shanghai Children's Medical Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
Tingyu RongDepartment of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, Shanghai Children's Medical Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
Yiding GuiDepartment of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, Shanghai Children's Medical Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
Yunting ZhangChild Health Advocacy Institute, Shanghai Children's Medical Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
Jin ZhaoDepartment of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, Shanghai Children's Medical Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
Wenjie ShanDepartment of International Clinic, Shanghai Children's Medical Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
Qi ZhuPediatric Translational Medicine Institution, Shanghai Children's Medical Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
Guanghai WangDepartment of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, Shanghai Children's Medical Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China. wang-guanghai@163.com.
Fan JiangDepartment of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, Shanghai Children's Medical Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China. fanjiang@shsmu.edu.cn.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundLow maternal cognitive empathy and higher affective empathy have been linked to increased emotional-behavioral problems (EBPs) in young children, but it remains unclear whether the associations are distinct according to maternal depression. This study aims to explore the moderating role of maternal depression in the association between maternal empathy and EBPs in preschoolers.

methodsCross-sectional and representative data were from 19,965 Chinese preschoolers. Maternal cognitive and affective empathy and depression were evaluated with Questionnaire of Cognitive and Affective Empathy and World Health Organization Five Well-Being Index, respectively. The Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire was used to assess child EBPs.

resultsLower maternal cognitive empathy was associated with increased child EBPs (aOR: 0.97, 95% CI: 0.96-0.97) with moderation of maternal depression (p = 0.002), and was slightly stronger in mothers at low risk for depression (aOR: 0.96, 95% CI: 0.95-0.97). Higher maternal affective empathy was associated with increased child EBPs (aOR: 1.03, 95% CI: 1.02-1.04), without significant moderation (p = 0.79).

conclusionsLower maternal cognitive empathy and higher affective empathy were associated with more EBPs in preschoolers. Maternal depression moderated only the cognitive empathy-EBPs association. Tailored strategies targeting maternal empathy according to various depression levels should be considered in clinical practices. IMPACT: We found lower maternal cognitive empathy and higher maternal affective empathy were associated with more emotional-behavioral problems (EBPs) in a large-scale and representative sample of preschoolers in Shanghai. We demonstrated the moderating role of maternal depression in the association between maternal cognitive empathy and EBPs in preschoolers, with the association being slightly stronger in mothers at low risk for depression than in mothers with depressive symptoms. The study highlights that, aside from maternal depression, promoting interventions on inappropriate maternal empathy may confer significant benefits on the psychological well-being of preschool children.

Indexed as

Child BehaviorChild Behavior DisordersCognitionDepressionEmotionsEmpathyMother-Child RelationsMothersProblem BehaviorAdultChild, PreschoolChinaCross-Sectional StudiesFemaleHumansMale

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PMID39738563

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