The moderating effects of perception of safety signal on relationships between heart rate variability and empathic concern.

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 21K13675
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 10010:Social psychology-related
• Research Institution: Kochi University of Technology
• Principal Investigator: Himichi Toshiyuki 高知工科大学, 経済・マネジメント学群, 講師 (80800995)
• Project Period (FY): 2021-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 安全性の知覚 / 共感性 / 心拍変動

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The present study tested the hypothesis that the perception of safety for surrounding environments moderates the relationship between compassion for others (empathic concern) and heart rate variability. In Study 1, a psychological scale measuring perception of safety was developed, and its reliability and construct validity were assessed. As a result, a 41-item scale was developed, and it was confirmed to be a bifactor model encompassing eight factors. Additionally, internal consistency, retest reliability and construct validity of this scale were found to be adequate. In Study 2 we examined whether the perception of safety, as measured by the scale developed in Study 1, moderates the relationship between heart rate variability and empathic concern. The results indicated that the perception of safety did not moderate the relationship between heart rate variability and empathic concern.

Free Research Field

心理学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

研究1で開発した安全性の知覚尺度は，人々が十分安全な環境下で生活できているか評価したり，人々に安全を与えるための介入方法が効果的に働いているか評価することに貢献できる。また，研究2では心拍変動と共感的関心の関係を安全性の知覚が調整しないことが明らかになったが，この結果から心拍変動と共感的関心の関係性や安全性の知覚と自律神経系活動の関係など，先行研究の知見を再考する必要性が示された。