Table 2 Item labels and distribution of responses for 24 nodes [selected from the DASS-21, EQ-short, JSE-S, and EES for which more than twelve (=30% [n = 40]) cases were detected for ‘absent’ and ‘present’ responses] comprising the empathic communication network.

From: Changing characteristics of the empathic communication network after empathy-enhancement program for medical students

Measure/subscale

Item

Label

Presence [n = 40]

Beforea

Aftera

DASS-21: depression

I find it difficult to work up the initiative to do things.

DASS-21: 5

21

22

I am unable to become enthusiastic about anything.

DASS-21: 16

16

15

DASS-21: anxiety

I am worried about situations in which I might panic and make a fool of myself.

DASS-21: 9

19

17

DASS-21: stress

I tend to over-react to situations.

DASS-21: 6

27

23

I find myself getting agitated.

DASS-21: 11

22

23

I find it difficult to relax.

DASS-21: 12

26

23

I am intolerant of anything that keeps me from getting on with what I am doing.

DASS-21: 14

22

19

EQ-short: empathy

I can easily tell if someone is masking their true emotion.

EQ-short: 2

21

22

Other people tell me I am good at understanding how they are feeling and what they are thinking.

EQ-short: 4

16

21

I can tune into how someone else feels rapidly and intuitively.

EQ-short: 5

20

24

I am good at predicting how someone will feel.

EQ-short: 7

20

24

I am good at predicting what someone will do.

EQ-short: 8

16

22

I can pick up quickly if someone says one thing but means another.

EQ-short: 9

22

25

JSE-S: empathy

Because people are different, it is almost impossible for physicians to see things from their patients’ perspectives.

JSE-S: 6

20

14

EES: emotional expressivity

People think of me as an unemotional person.

EES: 2

18

16

I don’t express my emotions to other people.

EES: 3

17

15

I am often considered indifferent by others.

EES: 4

16

14

Even when I’m experiencing strong feelings, I don’t express them outwardly.

EES: 9

18

21

Other people aren’t easily able to observe what I’m feeling.

EES: 10

14

16

I keep my feelings to myself.

EES: 11

18

16

Even if I am feeling very emotional, I don’t let others see my feelings.

EES: 12

17

17

I can’t hide the way I am feeling.

EES: 13

22

25

Other people believe me to be very emotional.

EES: 14

14

16

I am not very emotionally expressive.

EES: 15

20

15

  1. aNumber of participants with ‘presence/empathic/emotionally expressive’ reports that were binarized from the original Likert scale-based replies.
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