nina sadeghifard

This study aimed to determine the mediating role of self-esteem in the relationship between parent-child relationship and empathy. Participants comprised 295 secondary school students from Tehran, District 6 in the academic year of 1397-1389, selected by cluster sampling method. The participants completed the Adolescent Measure of Empathy and Sympathy (Vossen, Piotrowski, & Valkenburg, 2015), Self-Esteem Inventory (Coopersmith, 1990), and Parent-Child Relationship Questionnaire (Fine, Moreland & Schwebel, 1983). The results of the correlation test and path analysis showed that self-esteem has a positive relationship with empathy, and the parent-child relationship has a positive relationship with empathy and self-esteem in adolescents. Therefore Self-esteem plays a mediating role in the relationship between parent-child relationship and empathy. In general, findings show that the parent-child relationship forms and affects self-esteem. Due to its sanctity, the parent-child relationship is also related to empathy.