Empathy as a Predictor of Intimate Partner Abuse in the Muslim American Population

• Main Author: Khalid-Janney, Maidah
• Language: EN
• Published: The Chicago School of Professional Psychology 2018
• Subjects: Islamic studies|Psychology|Clinical psychology
• Online Access: http://pqdtopen.proquest.com/#viewpdf?dispub=10840367

<p> This study compared empathy scores, as measured by the Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI) with participants&rsquo; ability to correctly identify Intimate Partner Violence (IPV). Participants were 114 American Muslims. Of the 114 participants 58 participants provided qualitative data in the form of comments that were coded. Female participants were found to be significantly different when compared to normative sample of females that have completed the IRI. The second analysis utilized a mixed-method approach where the comments section of the results was coded, and groups of data were formed based on this coding. Analysis of this data was done again using t-tests and comparing specific grouped populations with normative samples. t-test conducted on females that participated in the study showed a significant difference in their fantasy scale scores on the Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI) compared to those in the general population. Muslim American females appeared to have a significantly lower score on the fantasy scale of the IRI than the general population. Though no other t-tests were significant, a trend in comments and those that were able to identify unique aspects of intimate partner violence was recognized in the data. Specifically, a subgroup of the population was able to identify in-law abuse as a component of the scenario presented to them showing that this specific type of IPV warrants further research and investigation in the Muslim American population.</p><p>