The Role of Empathy as a Mediator Between Callous-Unemotional Traits and Bullying

Objectives: The present study examines the role of empathy as a mediator between callous-unemotional traits and bullying amongstudents.Methods: The present descriptive correlational study was conducted on ۲۵۰ students selected from the ۱۴th district of Tehran, Iranthrough cluster sampling in the academic year of ۲۰۱۷ - ۲۰۱۸. The subjects completed the inventory of callous-unemotional traits(ICUT), the empathy scale and the Illinois bully scale (IBS). The data collected were analyzed in SPSS-۲۳ and AMOS-۲۳ using statisticalcorrelations and structural equation modeling.Results: The present results suggested that the effect of callous-unemotional Traits on empathy is negative and significant (-۰.۴۴)and on bullying is positive and significant (۰.۴۸). Empathy also exerted a positive and significant effect on bullying (۰.۳۰). Callousunemotionaltraits indirectly affected bullying with empathy as the mediator.Conclusions: Authorities of schools and organizations are recommended to teach empathy to students to reduce the incidence ofstudent bullying.