| （英） |
In this research, we examined how tolerance for the sound of a crying infant, which could be defined as a low discomfort level, is associated with individual personality traits, especially empathy. Two hundred eighty-seven college and junior college students answered a questionnaire which consisted of Discomfort Scale of Infant Crying, Multidimensional Empathy Scale, Emotional Contagion Scale, Sensory Sensitivity Scale, Trait Anxiety Scale and some personal attribute questions. A path analysis was carried out to clarify the causal relation from personal factors to the degree of discomfort of infant crying. As a result, the hierarchical factor structure, which should determine the degree of discomfort of the sound of a crying infant, became clear. Firstly, “anger contagion” and “sensitivity to noise and commotion” increased “personal distress,” which was one component of emotional empathy, and then the personal distress raised the discomfort degree of infant crying. Secondly, “happiness contagion” and “sadness contagion” increased “empathic concern,” which was another component of emotional empathy, and in turn, it possessed the role to reduce the discomfort degree of infant crying. In addition, “perspective taking,” which was one component of cognitive empathy, was shown to raise the empathic concern while reducing the personal distress. Lastly, the cuddle experience of infants was shown to contribute to decrease the degree of unpleasantness of infant crying directly. |