The Feelings of Others Don't Impress Me Much – Effects of Living Group Climate on Empathy in Adolescent Male Offenders

The present study is a replication in Germany of a study originally performed in the Netherlands regarding the association between a positive living group climate and self-reported empathy in incarcerated adolescent male offenders (n = 49). A structural equation model was fitted to the data and showed a relation between a positive living group climate and increased empathy after six months. The discussion focuses on group dynamics in youth prisons. The present results open the way to further research into the importance of group processes in residential youth care. A positive living group climate could turn out to be an important factor contributing to the effectiveness of secure institutional treatment.