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Behavioral sciences (Basel, Switzerland)
Mar 27, 2024;14 (4):

The Influence of Affective Empathy on Online News Belief: The Moderated Mediation of State Empathy and News Type.

Yifan Yu, Shizhen Yan, Qihan Zhang, Zhenzhen Xu, Guangfang Zhou, Hua Jin
Author Information
  1. Yifan Yu: Department of Psychology, Tianjin Normal University, Tianjin 300387, China.
  2. Shizhen Yan: School of Health, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou 350122, China.
  3. Qihan Zhang: Department of Psychology, Tianjin Normal University, Tianjin 300387, China.
  4. Zhenzhen Xu: Department of Psychology, Tianjin Normal University, Tianjin 300387, China.
  5. Guangfang Zhou: Department of Psychology, Tianjin Normal University, Tianjin 300387, China.
  6. Hua Jin: Department of Psychology, Tianjin Normal University, Tianjin 300387, China. ORCID
PMID: 38667074 DOI: 10.3390/bs14040278

Abstract

The belief in online news has become a topical issue. Previous studies demonstrated the role emotion plays in fake news vulnerability. However, few studies have explored the effect of empathy on online news belief. This study investigated the relationship between trait empathy, state empathy, belief in online news, and the potential moderating effect of news type. One hundred and forty undergraduates evaluated 50 online news pieces (25 real, 25 fake) regarding their belief, state empathy, valence, arousal, and familiarity. Trait empathy data were collected using the Chinese version of the Interpersonal Reactivity Index. State empathy was positively correlated with affective empathy in trait empathy and believability, and affective empathy was positively correlated with believability. The influence of affective empathy on news belief was partially mediated by state empathy and regulated by news type (fake, real). We discuss the influence of empathy on online news belief and its internal processes. This study shares some unique insights for researchers, practitioners, social media users, and social media platform providers.

Keywords

affective empathy fake news news belief online news

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Journal Article
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