The communication of empathy in couples during the transition to parenthood

Abstract This study examined how empathy is communicated and experienced in the helping interactions of couples expecting their first baby. Eighteen couples took part in a semistructured communication task, and then, in a tape‐assisted recall session, identified helper responses that were high and low in empathy. Qualitative data analysis yielded five themes characterizing high empathy responses—checking out or exploring meaning, acknowledging the concern, articulating meaning or summarizing, offering solutions, and a mutual experience—and five themes characterizing low empathy responses—missing the point, dismissing the concern, offering solutions, redirecting the conversation, and persuading. The findings suggest both similarities and differences between the communication of empathy in this population and existing theoretical conceptions of empathy in psychological therapy. Implications for preventive interventions for couples are discussed. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.