58
Views
72
PDF Downloads
Open Access
Empathy as a Predictor of Behavioral Problems in Early Childhood: A Gender-Based Analysis
Main Article Content
Abstract
Unaddressed behavioral problems in early childhood often persist into later life stages. This study aimed to analyze how empathy levels influence behavioral problems among young children and whether this relationship remains significant after controlling for gender. Using an explanatory quantitative design, data were obtained from 141 kindergarten and RA B teachers in Semarang City through a structured questionnaire. The results of frequency analysis showed that children’s empathy levels were entirely within the high category (100%), while behavioral problems were mostly in the low category (70.9%) and moderate category (29%). Multiple regression testing confirmed that empathy significantly reduced problem behaviors (p < 0.05). Emotional contagion, concern for others, and prosocial behavior were the most influential dimensions. When gender was controlled, empathy remained a significant predictor, whereas gender had no direct effect. This study contributes to the growing body of global scholarship on early childhood socio-emotional development by highlighting empathy as a key psychological mechanism for behavioral regulation. It strengthens the theoretical integration between empathy development and behavioral adjustment, offering empirical evidence that supports cross-cultural understanding of emotional and behavioral competencies in early childhood education. The findings suggest that interventions emphasizing emotional contagion, caring, and prosocial responsiveness can effectively reduce behavioral issues regardless of gender. Further studies are recommended to explore cross-contextual factors such as emotional regulation, family interactions, and teacher–child relationships to enrich the explanatory model of empathy’s influence on children’s behavioral outcomes.
Keywords:
Downloads
Metrics
Article Details
How to Cite
Copyright
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
Copyright Notice
Authors who publish with this journal agree to the following terms:
- Authors retain copyright and grant the journal the right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgment of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal, provided that the work is not used for commercial purposes.
- Authors can enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgement of its initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work.
Privacy Statement
The names and email addresses entered in this journal site will be used exclusively for the stated purposes of this journal and will not be made available for any other purpose or to any other party.
References
Abiddin, N. Z., Omar, R., & Saroni, M. (2024). Cultivating Empathy and Environmental Stewardship: Harnessing the Partnerships of Parents, Teachers and Communities for Sustainable Moral Development and Social Cohesion. Revista de Gestao Social e Ambiental, 18(8), 1–20. https://doi.org/10.24857/rgsa.v18n8-052
Achenbach, T. M., Ivanova, M. Y., Rescorla, L. A., Turner, L. V., & Althoff, R. R. (2016). Internalizing/Externalizing Problems: Review and Recommendations for Clinical and Research Applications. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 55(8), 647–656. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaac.2016.05.012
Aprilliani, K., Maranatha, J. R., & Justicia, R. (2023). Nalisis Perbedaan Empati Anak Usia Dini Ditinjau Berdasarkan Jenis Kelamin Di Tk X Di Kecamatan Purwakarta. Jurnal Pendidikan Islam Anak Usia Dini, 5(5), 1240–1255.
Bensalah, L., Caillies, S., & Anduze, M. (2016). Links among cognitive empathy, theory of mind, and affective perspective taking by young children. The Journal of genetic psychology, 177(1), 17–31.
Berliner, R., & Masterson, T. L. (2015). Review of Research: Promoting Empathy Development in the Early Childhood and Elementary Classroom: April Bedford and Renée Casbergue, Editors. Childhood Education, 91(1), 57–64. https://doi.org/10.1080/00094056.2015.1001675
Besnard, T., Verlaan, P., Davidson, M., Vitaro, F., Poulin, F., & Capuano, F. (2013). Bidirectional influences between maternal and paternal parenting and children’s disruptive behaviour from kindergarten to grade 2. Early Child Development and Care, 183(3–4), 515–533. https://doi.org/10.1080/03004430.2012.711597
Braza, P., Carreras, R., Muñoz, J. M., Braza, F., Azurmendi, A., Pascual-Sagastizábal, E., Cardas, J., & Sánchez-Martín, J. R. (2013). Negative Maternal and Paternal Parenting Styles as Predictors of Children’s Behavioral Problems: Moderating Effects of the Child’s Sex. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 24(4), 847–856. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10826-013-9893-0
Brown, M. M. I., Thibodeau, R. B., Pierucci, J. M., & Gilpin, A. T. (2017). Supporting the development of empathy: The role of theory of mind and fantasy orientation. Social Development, 26(4), 951–964. https://doi.org/10.1111/sode.12232
Bulgarelli, C., & Jones, E. J. H. (2023). The typical and atypical development of empathy: How big is the gap from lab to field? JCPP Advances, 3(1), 1–15. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1002/jcv2.12136
Craig, A. G., Thompson, J. M. D., Slykerman, R., Wall, C., Murphy, R., Mitchell, E. A., & Waldie, K. E. (2021a). The Father I Knew: Early Paternal Engagement Moderates the Long-term Relationship between Paternal Accessibility and Childhood Behavioral Difficulties. Journal of Family Issues, 42(10), 2418–2437.
Craig, A. G., Thompson, J. M. D., Slykerman, R., Wall, C., Murphy, R., Mitchell, E. A., & Waldie, K. E. (2021b). The Father I Knew: Early Paternal Engagement Moderates the Long-term Relationship between Paternal Accessibility and Childhood Behavioral Difficulties. Journal of Family Issues, 42(10), 2418–2437. https://doi.org/10.1177/0192513X20980128
Creswell, W. John, dan J. D. C. (2018). Research Design: Qualitative, Quantitative and Mixed Methods Approaches (Vol. 53). https://doi.org/https://www.ucg.ac.me/skladiste/blog_609332/objava_105202/fajlovi/Creswell.pdf
Dewi, N., & Mangunsong, F. (2024). Enhancing Nurses’ Empathy Towards Young Child Patients Through Empathy Training. Eduvest - Journal of Universal Studies, 4(6), 5214–5228. https://doi.org/10.59188/eduvest.v4i6.1472
Farmer, T. W., Irvin, M. J., Motoca, L. M., Leung, M., Hutchins, B. C., Brooks, D. S., & Hall, C. M. (2015). Externalizing and Internalizing Behavior Problems , Peer Affiliations , and Bullying Involvement Across the Transition to Middle School. Journal of Emotional and Behavioral Disorders, 23(1), 3–16. https://doi.org/10.1177/1063426613491286
Fitri W, S., Rosidah, L., & Maryani, K. (2017). Meningkatkan Kemampuan Empati Anak Usia 5-6 Tahun Melalui Cooperative Learning. Jurnal Ilmiah Visi PG TK PAUD dan DIKNAS, 12(2), 163–169.
Georgea, J. S., Fletcherb, R., & Palazzic, K. (2016). Comparing Fathers’ Physical and Toy Play and Links to Child Behaviour: An Exploratory Study. Infant and Child Development, 18(6), 238–254. https://doi.org/10.1002/icd
Göbel, A., Henning, A., Möller, C., & Aschersleben, G. (2016). The Relationship between Emotion Comprehension and Internalizing and Externalizing Behavior in 7- to 10-Year-Old Children. Frontiers in Psychology, 7, 1–11.
Goldberg, J. S., & Carlson, M. J. (2014). Parents’ Relationship Quality and Children’s Behavior in Stable Married and Cohabiting Families. Journal of Marriage and Family, 76(4), 762–777. https://doi.org/10.1111/jomf.12120
Goleman. (2016). Emotional Intelligence. PT Gramedia Pustaka Utama.
Grazzani, I., Ornaghi, V., Pepe, A., Brazzelli, E., & Rieffe, C. (2017). The Italian version of the Empathy Questionnaire for 18- to 36-months-old children: psychometric properties and measurement invariance across gender of the EmQue-I13. European Journal of Developmental Psychology, 14(1), 118–126. https://doi.org/10.1080/17405629.2016.1140640
Gustafsson, B. M., Danielsson, H., Granlund, M., Gustafsson, P. A., & Proczkowska, M. (2018). Hyperactivity precedes conduct problems in preschool children: a longitudinal study. BJPsych Open, 4(4), 186–191. https://doi.org/10.1192/bjo.2018.20
Kumari, R., Nurhayati, S., Harmiasih, S., & Endang Yunitasari, S. (2023). Menumbuhkan Sikap Empati Pada Anak Usia Dini Melalui Pembiasaan Sedekah Jumat Berkah di PAUD Insan Mandiri Kota Bogor Rini. AKSARA: Jurnal Ilmu Pendidikan Nonformal, 09((2), May), 1067–1074.
Kurniawati, Y., & Nafisah, A. D. (2022). Persepsi Anak Usia Dini Terhadap Guru Di Semarang. Konservasi Pendidikan, 1(1), 150–189. https://doi.org/https://bookchapter.unnes.ac.id/index.php/kp/article/view/40
Liu, Dittman, C. K., Guo, M., Morawska, A., & Haslam, D. (2021). Influence of Father Involvement, Fathering Practices and Father-Child Relationships on Children in Mainland China. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 30(8), 1858–1870. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10826-021-01986-4
Lucas-Molina, B., Sarmento, R., Quintanilla, L., & Giménez-Dasí, M. (2018). The Spanish Version of the Empathy Questionnaire (EmQue): Evidence for Longitudinal Measurement Invariance and Relationship With Emotional Regulation. Early Education and Development, 29(4), 467–476. https://doi.org/10.1080/10409289.2018.1427929
Major, S., & Seabra-Santos, M. J. (2016). Validity evidences for the Portuguese version of the problem behavior scale: Preschool and kindergarten behavior Scales-2. Paideia, 26(65), 273–281. https://doi.org/10.1590/1982-43272665201606
Maronta, Y., & Nafisah, A. D. (2024). Keterlibatan Orang Tua dalam Kegiatan Bermain Anak Usia Dini di Rumah. Ashil: Jurnal Pendidikan Anak Usia Dini, 4(2), 140–150. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.33367/piaud.v4i2.5344
Nafisah, A. D., Nabelah, S., Zahrok, F., Arlika, F. A., Rohmatina, Z. L., Ningtyas, A. W., & Rahayu, N. C. (2024). Analysis of Grandparenting Patterns in Children’s Character Formation in Lamongan City. Journal Of Early Childhood Islamic Education, 7(2), 158–169. https://doi.org/https://ejournal.uinfasbengkulu.ac.id/index.php/alfitrah/article/view/4407
Nafisah, A. D., Pranoto, Y. K. S., & Nuzulia, S. (2022). Studi Literatur: Perkembangan Kognitif Anak Usia Dini Ditinjau dari Keterlibatan Ayah. Prosiding Seminar Nasional Pascasarjana (Prosnampas), 5(1). https://doi.org/https://doi.org/https://proceeding.unnes.ac.id/index.php/snpasca/issue/view/37
Nafisah, A. D., Pranoto, Y. K. S., & Nuzulia, S. (2023). The Impact of Father Involvement in the Early Childhood Problematic Behavior. JPUD - Jurnal Pendidikan Usia Dini, 17(1), 14–30. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.21009/jpud.171.02
Nafisah, A. D., Pranoto, Y. K. S., Nuzulia, S., Mulawarman, & Suminar, T. (2025). Father involvement as a predictor of early childhood external behaviors in Indonesian. International Journal of Public Health Science (IJPHS), 14(1), 434~442. https://doi.org/https://ijphs.iaescore.com/index.php/IJPHS/article/view/24269
Nafisah, A. D., Sobah, A., Yusuf, N. A. K., & Hartono, H. (2022). Pentingnya Penanaman Nilai Pancasila dan Moral pada Anak Usia Dini. Jurnal Obsesi : Jurnal Pendidikan Anak Usia Dini, 6(5), 5041–5051. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.31004/obsesi.v6i5.1865
Nugrahani, H. Z., Mini, R., Salim, A., & Saleh, A. Y. (2021). Gambaran keterlibatan ayah dalam pengasuhan anak usia dini : Baseline dari rancangan program intervensi untuk ayah. Provitae: Jurnal Psikologi Pendidikan, 14(1), 42–58.
Nurfazrina, S. A., Muslihin, H. Y., & Sumardi, S. (2020). Analisis kemampuan empati anak usia 5-6 tahun (literature review). Jurnal PAUD Agapedia, 4(2), 285–299.
Ornaghi, V., Conte, E., & Grazzani, I. (2020). Empathy in Toddlers: The Role of Emotion Regulation, Language Ability, and Maternal Emotion Socialization Style. Frontiers in Psychology, 11(October), 1–11. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.586862
Orri, M., Tremblay, R. E., Japel, C., Boivin, M., Losier, T., Brendgen, M. R., Falissard, B., & Melchior, M. (2019). Early childhood child care and disruptive behavior problems during adolescence : a 17-year population-based propensity score study. Journal ofChild Psychology and Psychiatry, 1–9. https://doi.org/10.1111/jcpp.13065
Permendikbud No. 58. (2009). Tentang Pendidikan Anak Usia Dini.
Perry, K. J., Ostrov, J. M., Murray-Close, D., Blakely-McClure, S. J., Kiefer, J., DeJesus-Rodriguez, A., & Wesolowski, A. (2021). Measurement of aggressive behavior in early childhood: A critical analysis using five informants. Journal of Experimental Child Psychology, 209, 105180. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jecp.2021.105180
Pranoto, Y. K. S., Diana, Aksoy, N., Sugiyo, Nafisah, A. D., & Tri, A. U. R. (2024). Voices of first graders: exploratory study on starting school during post-pandemic period. International Journal of Evaluation and Research in Education (IJERE), 13(3), 1511–1525. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.11591/ijere.v13i3.27320
Pranoto, Y. K. S., Sugiyo, S., Nafisah, A. D., & Prasojo, B. T. (2021). Praktik Terbaik Program Belajar dari Rumah (BDR) di Indonesia dan di Kota Mekkah. Journal of Community Empowerment, 1(2), 30–34. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.15294/jce.v1i2.53581
Pranoto, Y. K. S., Nafisah, A. D., Kurniati, E., Zaman, B., Rumpoko, A. U. T., & Rachman, H. (2024). Peran Ayah dalam Kegiatan Bermain Anak Usia Dini di Lingkungan Rumah. Jurnal Riset Golden Age PAUD UHO, 7(3).
Rahayu, N. N. S., & Nafisah, A. D. (2024). Pola Permainan Batang Korek Api Dalam Memotivasi Kognitif Belajar Anak. RAJULA Journal of Early Childhood Education Studies, 1(1), 65–82. https://doi.org/https://ejournal.sidyanusa.org/index.php/rajula/article/view/628
Sebre, S. B., Jusiene, R., Dapkevice, E., Skreitule-Pikse, I., & Bieliauskaite, R. (2015). Parenting dimensions in relation to pre-schoolers behaviour problems in Latvia and Lithuania. International Journal of Behavioral Development, 39(5), 458–466. https://doi.org/10.1177/0165025414548774
Septiani, D., & Nasution, I. N. (2017). Peran Keterlibatan Ayah dalam Pengasuhan Bagi Perkembangan Kecerdasan Moral Anak. Jurnal Psikologi, 13(2), 120–125. https://doi.org/10.24014/jp.v13i2.4045
Setiawan, D., Nafisah, A. D., & Diana. (2022). Father ’ s Involvement in Children ’ s Distance Learning during the Pandemic. Jurnal Pendidikan Usia Dini, 16(1), 149–161. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.21009/JPUD.161.10
Seymour, M., Peace, R., Wood, C. E., Jillard, C., Evans, K., O’Brien, J., Williams, L. A., Brown, S., & Giallo, R. (2021). “We’re in the background”: Facilitators and barriers to fathers’ engagement and participation in a health intervention during the early parenting period. Health Promotion Journal of Australia, 32(S2), 78–86. https://doi.org/10.1002/hpja.432
Shaleh, M. (2023). Empathy Development in Early Grade at State Elementary Schools. Journal of Islamic Early Childhood Education, 6(1), 59–66.
Siti Fitra Sari, F., Sundari, N., & Mashudi, E. (2024). Pola Interaksi Sosial pada Anak Usia Dini dengan Keterlambatan Bicara (Speech Delay). PAUDIA : Jurnal Penelitian dalam Bidang Pendidikan Anak Usia Dini, 13(2), 242–253. https://doi.org/10.26877/paudia.v13i2.499
Sun, J., Singletary, B., Jiang, H., Justice, L. M., & Lin, T. (2022). Child Behavior Problems During COVID-19: Associations with Parent Distress and Child Social-Emotional Skills. Journal of Applied Developmental PsychologY, 78, 1–10.
Zhang, J., Liu, Y., & Hu, T. (2019). A Meta-Analysis of The Relationship between Father Involvement and Problem Behaviour Among Preschool Children. Early Child Development and Care, 1–23. https://doi.org/10.1080/03004430.2019.1679127