Psychiatry Investig.  2010 Mar;7(1):24-30.

Reliability and Validity of the Korean Version of the Empathy Quotient Scale

• Kim J
• Lee SJ

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
The Empathy Quotient (EQ) is a self-reported test developed by Baron-Cohen et al. (2004) to measure the cognitive and affective aspects of empathy. The purpose of this study was to develop a Korean version of EQ and to establish its psychometric properties based on a representative Korean sample.
METHODS
The Korean version of EQ and its correspondence with another popular measure of empathy, the Korean version of the Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI), were evaluated in a sample of 478 volunteers (156 men, 322 women; mean age, 27.2 years). A test-retest study was conducted at 1 month on a selected sample of 20 subjects from the original sample. Correlation and confirmatory factor analyses were conducted.
RESULTS
The test-retest reliability was good, and the internal consistency was acceptable (Cronbach's alpha=0.78). Positive correlations were found between the EQ and three subfactors of the IRI, perspective taking, empathic concern, and fantasy, and the total EQ score was negatively correlated with the personal distress subscale. The confirmatory analyses suggested that the three-factor structure offered a good fit to the data.
CONCLUSION
These findings support the reliability and validity of the Korean version of the EQ.

Keyword

Empathy Quotient; Reliability; Validity; Autism Spectrum Disorder; Interpersonal Reactivity Index

MeSH Terms

Child
Autism Spectrum Disorder
Empathy
Fantasy
Humans
Male
Psychometrics
Reproducibility of Results