Effects of Empathy and Regulatory Emotional Self-Efficacy on Difficulties and Strengths in Juvenile Offenders

Abstract

This study examines the impact of empathy and emotional self-efficacy on the behavioral difficulties and strengths of young offenders deprived of liberty in Colombia. A total of 220 youths (M = 17.61 years, SD = 1.163) residing in specialized care centers participated. The Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ), the Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI), and the Regulatory Emotional Self-Efficacy Scale (RESE) were used. The findings indicate that regulatory emotional self-efficacy is negatively associated with behavioral difficulties and positively linked to prosocial behavior. Moreover, empathy exhibits distinct effects depending on its dimension, with perspective-taking and personal distress playing a significant role in emotional regulation. Mediation models suggest that emotional self-efficacy modulates the relationship between empathy and prosocial behavior. These results highlight the importance of interventions to enhance emotional self-efficacy and affective regulation to foster juvenile resocialization.