einstein (São Paulo). 10/set/2024;22:eAO0685.
Human-animal interaction and One Health: establishment and validation of the Brazilian version of the Animal Empathy Scale
DOI: 10.31744/einstein_journal/2024AO0685
Highlights
From the One Health approach, empathy represents the initial movement towards achieving planet harmony.
The more emotions we attribute to animals, the more we develop pro-conservation behaviors.
AES-Brazil may serve as a tool for reflection and monitoring interventions in human-animal relationships.
ABSTRACT
Objective:
To design and validate a Brazilian version of the Animal Empathy Scale, based on the existing Portuguese version.
Methods:
Content validity assessment was performed by expert judges, and the adapted scale was administered to a sample of 386 participants. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were performed.
Results:
The bifactorial profile of the scale remained consistent, comprising Empathic Concern for Animals (Cronbach’s alpha and McDonald’s omega coefficients: 0.75) and Emotional Attachment with Animals (Cronbach’s alpha and McDonald’s omega coefficients: 0.79). Considering the One Health framework, collaborative, multidisciplinary, and intersectoral approaches are essential for achieving optimal health conditions for people, animals, and the environment given their intricate interconnections. Empathy plays a crucial role in promoting proximity between humans and animals, fostering positive connections that encourage biodiversity conservation.
Conclusion:
The 13 statements were retained, confirming the validity of the animal empathy scale for use in Brazil, and a Brazilian version of the Animal Empathy Scale was established.
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Palavras-chave: Empathy; Animals; Human-animal interaction; One health; Factor analysis; statistical; Surveys and questionnaires
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