Verschillen in empathie tegenover suïcideplegers: Geslacht, gender-identiteit en sekse van de suïcidepleger

Abstract

The present study investigated the differences in gender and gender-identity in empathy towards males or females who commit suicide. It was hypothesized that participants of the female gender and participants with a (very) feminine gender-identity would have more empathy towards people who commit suicide, and that females who commit suicide would get more empathy from participants than males who commit suicide. To investigate this, 125 adult participants were asked to complete a series of questions, which include the Attitudes Towards Suicide (ATTS – empathy towards suicide), Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI – general empathy) and Personal Attributes Questionnaire (PAQ – gender-identity). Results indicated that none of the hypotheses was supported. There were no differences in empathy between male or female participants, between males or females who commit suicide or between participants high in masculine or high in feminine gender-identity. It is possible that the hypothesized differences are only important with adolescent participants. The present study found that younger participants have significantly more empathy towards people who commit suicide than older participants when participants were put in two groups (18-24 years and older than 25 years). This may explain why none of the hypotheses were supported in this group of adults. Future research should investigate the difference in empathy towards suicide in adolescents and young adults (under 25 years) and adults (older than 25 years).