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The Costs and Benefits of Caring: Exploring the Effect of Empathic Concern on Well-Being

Gary, Katharine Marie, Gary
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=kent1626800287358651

Abstract Details

2021, PHD, Kent State University, College of Arts and Sciences / Department of Sociology and Criminology.
This dissertation explores structural variation in the relationship between empathic concern and well-being by drawing from social psychological theories. The stress process model provides theoretical context as to why empathic concern may have costs on well-being. Nonetheless, social exchange principles help to expand the stress process paradigm by providing an explanation for how the benefits of empathic concern may weigh with the costs through pro-social behavior as a form of generalized social exchange that may be linked with rewarding emotions. I find that empathic concern was associated with greater perceived health and some aspects of emotional well-being, especially through pro-social behavior as a coping strategy. Regarding social status, I found that women reported greater empathic concern, and the middle/upper class reported greater pro-social behavior. The results of this dissertation provide some support for the stress process paradigm in the sense that there was evidence that coping may be more effective for men and the middle/upper class for certain aspects of emotional well-being.
Kristen Marcussen, Dr. (Committee Chair)
114 p.
Sociology
costs-of-caring; stress process; social status; social exchange; empathy; pro-social behavior

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Gary, Gary, K. M. (2021). The Costs and Benefits of Caring: Exploring the Effect of Empathic Concern on Well-Being [Doctoral dissertation, Kent State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=kent1626800287358651

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Gary, Gary, Katharine. The Costs and Benefits of Caring: Exploring the Effect of Empathic Concern on Well-Being. 2021. Kent State University, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=kent1626800287358651.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Gary, Gary, Katharine. "The Costs and Benefits of Caring: Exploring the Effect of Empathic Concern on Well-Being." Doctoral dissertation, Kent State University, 2021. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=kent1626800287358651

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

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This open access ETD is published by Kent State University and OhioLINK.