Researchers from the University of Virginia have released a study titled Here For You: Attachments and the Growth of Emphatic Support for Friends in Adolescence, published in Child Development.
Scientists can link empathy to a teen’s family attachment
Researchers found that they can predict a teen’s relationship with their friends through their attachment to their families from the study. Teens with high levels of empathy for their friends have more secure family relationships.
Although people think teenagers can be self-absorbed, many studies have shown that this stage is essential for developing empathy.
According to a post-doctoral fellow at the University of Virginia and a study author, Jessica Stern, the team of researchers found that teenagers who have more secure family relationships by 14 can give more consistent support to their friends. However, those with weaker family relationships by 14 had less emphatic support for their friends. However, it gradually increased with time.
Researchers also concluded that friends sought support from peers with more secure relationships in early adolescence because such teens provide more empathic support. In addition, seeking support also helps to develop empathy.
Secure family relationships consist of emotional safety, trust, and responsiveness. Responsiveness allows teenagers to know what it’s like to receive empathy.
Findings show the importance of building strong relationships with teenagers
The study shows parents that building strong family relationships with their adolescent children is vital. It could help them develop empathy and promote positive interactions with those around them. They could also use school-based interventions, family therapy, and parenting programs to help their children feel supported and safe in their relationships with their parents making them more empathetic to other people.
Stern adds that teens who have developed high empathy levels are less likely to be bullies, aggressive, and display less prejudice.
The researchers pointed out a few limitations with their study. The first is analyzing empathy as the only reason for teens helping others. However, they can have other reasons for helping others, like being viewed positively or feeling obligated to act. In addition, they did not use the attachment to predict its impact on the teen’s future caregiving behavior, such as raising their children.
