Empathy among Guatemalan adolescents: a mixed-methods study of culture and economic condition
Cultural and economic contexts shape adolescents’ socio-emotional development. We conducted an explanatory sequential mixed-methods study of adolescents’ empathy, a component of social development, in two schools in Guatemala, a country marked by collectivism and economic disparity. Participants (N...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Taylor & Francis Group
2025-12-01
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| Series: | International Journal of Adolescence and Youth |
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| Online Access: | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/02673843.2025.2456599 |
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| author | Judith L. Gibbons Brien K. Ashdown Katelyn E. Poelker |
| author_facet | Judith L. Gibbons Brien K. Ashdown Katelyn E. Poelker |
| author_sort | Judith L. Gibbons |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Cultural and economic contexts shape adolescents’ socio-emotional development. We conducted an explanatory sequential mixed-methods study of adolescents’ empathy, a component of social development, in two schools in Guatemala, a country marked by collectivism and economic disparity. Participants (N = 119, ages 12–18, 64 girls) who attended either a school serving low-resource students or one serving affluent students completed the adapted Basic Empathy Scale and reported household amenities. Adolescents from the low-resource school reported more affective and cognitive empathy; household amenities mediated the relation between school and affective empathy. Thematic analysis of daily hassles and sources of gratitude revealed that interpersonal relationships were paramount for students from both schools. Students from the affluent school disdained hypocrisy, sought time alone, and resisted parents’ control. Students from the low-resource school perceived a shared fate and sought attention and respect. The empathy of adolescents living in poverty may be harnessed to promote their empowerment. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-d33d38eaa98543ab8a2156485d73f40d |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 0267-3843 2164-4527 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-12-01 |
| publisher | Taylor & Francis Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | International Journal of Adolescence and Youth |
| spelling | doaj-art-d33d38eaa98543ab8a2156485d73f40d2025-01-25T11:46:42ZengTaylor & Francis GroupInternational Journal of Adolescence and Youth0267-38432164-45272025-12-0130110.1080/02673843.2025.2456599Empathy among Guatemalan adolescents: a mixed-methods study of culture and economic conditionJudith L. Gibbons0Brien K. Ashdown1Katelyn E. Poelker2Department of Psychology, Saint Louis University, St. Louis, USADepartment of Psychology, Albizu University, Miami, USADepartment of Psychology, Saint Louis University, St. Louis, USACultural and economic contexts shape adolescents’ socio-emotional development. We conducted an explanatory sequential mixed-methods study of adolescents’ empathy, a component of social development, in two schools in Guatemala, a country marked by collectivism and economic disparity. Participants (N = 119, ages 12–18, 64 girls) who attended either a school serving low-resource students or one serving affluent students completed the adapted Basic Empathy Scale and reported household amenities. Adolescents from the low-resource school reported more affective and cognitive empathy; household amenities mediated the relation between school and affective empathy. Thematic analysis of daily hassles and sources of gratitude revealed that interpersonal relationships were paramount for students from both schools. Students from the affluent school disdained hypocrisy, sought time alone, and resisted parents’ control. Students from the low-resource school perceived a shared fate and sought attention and respect. The empathy of adolescents living in poverty may be harnessed to promote their empowerment.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/02673843.2025.2456599Empathyadolescencesocio-emotional developmenteconomic resourcesGuatemala |
| spellingShingle | Judith L. Gibbons Brien K. Ashdown Katelyn E. Poelker Empathy among Guatemalan adolescents: a mixed-methods study of culture and economic condition International Journal of Adolescence and Youth Empathy adolescence socio-emotional development economic resources Guatemala |
| title | Empathy among Guatemalan adolescents: a mixed-methods study of culture and economic condition |
| title_full | Empathy among Guatemalan adolescents: a mixed-methods study of culture and economic condition |
| title_fullStr | Empathy among Guatemalan adolescents: a mixed-methods study of culture and economic condition |
| title_full_unstemmed | Empathy among Guatemalan adolescents: a mixed-methods study of culture and economic condition |
| title_short | Empathy among Guatemalan adolescents: a mixed-methods study of culture and economic condition |
| title_sort | empathy among guatemalan adolescents a mixed methods study of culture and economic condition |
| topic | Empathy adolescence socio-emotional development economic resources Guatemala |
| url | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/02673843.2025.2456599 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT judithlgibbons empathyamongguatemalanadolescentsamixedmethodsstudyofcultureandeconomiccondition AT brienkashdown empathyamongguatemalanadolescentsamixedmethodsstudyofcultureandeconomiccondition AT katelynepoelker empathyamongguatemalanadolescentsamixedmethodsstudyofcultureandeconomiccondition |