Abstract
The purposes of this study were to (1) use Davis' Interpersonal Reactivity Index to identify the component factors of empathy among students in physical education classes and to then (2) identify any differences in those factors based on gender and class level (elementary school (4th to 6th grade), middle school, and high school students). The study was conducted by using 30 items related to empathy in physical education classes. Davis' four proposed factors, "fantasy," "personal distress," "empathic concern," and "perspective-taking" were interpreted based on the analysis of 3703 male and female subjects ranging from the 4th grade to the 11th grade. All of these factors showed a significant difference between genders, with females being higher than males. The average scores among both males and females for the factors of empathic concern and perspective-taking were significantly higher in each progressive class level, while personal distress was significantly lower. The fantasy factor was the only factor that did not show significant differences between class levels, except between elementary and middle school girls. It was thus determined that differences exist among the four "Davis factors" in physical education classes based on gender and class level.
