Empathy Training for Caregivers of Older People: A Systematic Review

ABSTRACT

Objectives

To identify empathy training models and the effects on psychological concerns in paid and unpaid caregivers of older people.

Methods

A systematic review was conducted. Searches for relevant articles were performed in the Embase, LILACS, PsycInfo, Pubmed, Scopus and Web of Science databases using the following search strategy: “Empathy AND (Education OR Training OR Intervention) AND Caregiver.” No restrictions were imposed regarding language or year of publication.

Results

Empathy training for caregivers of older people were performed in six studies, three of which identified a significant increase in empathy levels and consequent reduction in psychological concerns. Empathy training focused on aspects of empathy and/or the caregiver had significant effects on the outcome variables. Moreover, training conducted online, by telephone and/or in person can generate satisfactory results. The other three studies that conducted training with a focus on aspects of dementia and/or old age did not present any effect on the outcome variables.

Conclusions

Empathy training for caregivers of older people can increase levels of this ability, especially in the cognitive domain, as well as diminish psychological concerns caused by the negative impact of providing care.

Clinical implications

Empathy training directed at empathic abilities and/or aspects of providing care can be effective at increasing levels of this ability. Moreover, training in different care contexts can minimize the negative impacts of providing care.

KEYWORDS:

• Aging
• burden
• caregiver
• education
• empathy
• older adults
• social ability
• systematic review
• training program

Clinical implications

• Empathy training focused on empathic abilities and/or the aspects of providing care may be more effective at increasing the levels of this ability.

• Training focused on the cognitive domain and/or its subdomain (i.e., perspective taking) can minimize the psychological concerns of caregivers.

• Training conducted either online or in person is capable of achieving the intended goals in paid and unpaid caregivers of older people.

• Empathy training for caregivers of older people in different care contexts can minimize the negative impacts of providing care (e.g., psychological concerns).

Author Statement

Maximiano-Barreto MA, Luchesi BM and Chagas MHN designed the systematic review. Maximiano-Barreto MA and Ottaviani AC conducted the literature search, selected studies and extracted data from the primary studies. All other authors assisted in resolving issues. Chagas MHN and Luchesi BM conducted the analysis. Maximiano-Barreto MA wrote the first draft of the manuscript. All authors contributed to and approved the final manuscript.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Data availability statement

Data sharing is not applicable to this article as no new data were created or analyzed in this study.

Statement of ethics

The paper is exempt from the approval of an ethics committee due to the fact that it is a review of previously published literature.

Supplementary material

Supplemental data for this article can be accessed online at https://doi.org/10.1080/07317115.2022.2127390.

Additional information

Funding

This study was financed in part by the Brazilian fostering agencies: Coordenarção de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior ([Coordination for the Advancement of Higher Education Personnel]) - Finance Code 001) and Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP [State of São Paulo Research Assistance Foundation] process: São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP) 2020/04936-4).