The Link Between Attitudes Toward Animals and Empathy With Humans in China: Mediation of Empathy With Animals

ABSTRACT

The current study aimed to investigate transference assumption – that encouraging pro-animal attitudes will increase empathy both with humans and other species. We used a cross-sectional survey method to examine the triadic relations among empathy with humans, empathy with animals, and pro-animal attitudes. To compare the research conducted in primarily Western contexts, a sample of 669 Chinese adults completed the Animal Attitude Scale, Basic Empathy Scale, and Animal Empathy Scale. They also reported their sociodemographic data and the frequency and quality of their contact with companion animals. Results showed that: (a) Females showed significantly more empathy with humans and other animals and held more positive attitudes toward animals than males; (b) Higher frequency and quality of contact with companion animals significantly predicted more empathy with both humans and other animals and more positive attitudes toward animals; (c) Older participants showed more empathy with humans than younger participants, but younger participants showed more empathy with animals than older participants; (d) empathy with animals fully mediated the relationship between attitudes toward animals and empathy with humans. The findings extend previous work on cross-species associations of empathy and support the practices of fostering empathy and pro-social behavior through animal-related humane-education interventions.

KEYWORDS:

• Animals
• attitudes
• China
• empathy
• human–animal interaction
• humane education

Acknowledgements

We thank Cecilia Qian for her comments on an early draft of the manuscript.

Disclosure Statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.