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Messina, I., Sambin, M., & Palmieri, A.

Measuring therapeutic empathy in a clinical context: Validating the Italian version of the Empathic Understanding of Relationship Inventory

Patients’ perceptions of therapeutic empathy have been found to be predictive of its outcome. Despite the implications of these findings, there are no instruments available in Italian language capable of measuring empathy in clinical contexts. The aim of this study was to validate the Empathic Understanding subscale (EU) of Relationship Inventory (Barrett-Lennard, 1986) for Italian users. The inventory was translated and perfected by transcultural experts. The psychometric accuracy of the final version was analyzed utilizing a sample of 39 dyads of participants who were involved in video-recorded interaction sessions. Psychophysiological concordance and evaluations by external judges were also recorded in order to evaluate convergent validity. Criterion validity was also estimated by comparing the scores obtained by our participants. The translated version of the inventory was found to be a reliable and valid measure potentially applicable for research purposes and clinical practice.

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