New metric distinguishes empathy in autism vs. social anxiety
A new study finds empathy differs in autism and social anxiety, introducing a metric to distinguish the two.
Why it matters
- Empathy operates differently in autism vs. social anxiety.
- A new metric could improve diagnosis and support strategies.
By the numbers
- 105 university students participated.
- Autism group had higher PD/EC ratio (0.83 cutoff).
The big picture
- Empathy is multidimensional, with unique profiles across psychological conditions.
- Findings support better diagnostic tools and targeted interventions.
What they're saying
- Comments highlight the complexity of empathy and how it's measured.
- Neurodivergent individuals may express empathy differently than neurotypicals.
Caveats
- Study had a small number of women.
- Social anxiety group identified via self-report, not clinical interviews.
What’s next
- Replicate findings across different populations.
- Integrate physiological markers with behavioral questionnaires.