# Research on empathy development and transmission

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/research-on-empathy-development-and-transmission
> Updated: 2026-08-15T10:43:00.000Z. Sources: 2. Developments: 2.

Research into child and adolescent development has increasingly emphasized that empathy is a skill cultivated through interpersonal relationships rather than theoretical instruction.

A meta-analysis of over 25,000 children and adolescents indicates that empathy is built through authentic social experiences and repeated interactions. The study, highlighted at ParentED Fest 2026 in Bucharest, links strong emotion-regulation skills and the presence of emotionally available adults to higher levels of prosocial behavior.

Complementing these findings, a 25-year longitudinal study from the University of Virginia suggests that empathy functions as an intergenerational relational pattern. By tracking participants from adolescence into adulthood, researchers observed that empathic care provided by parents influences the social behavior of teenagers, which in turn predicts more supportive parenting styles in the next generation.

## Timeline

### 2026-08-15: University of Virginia study tracks intergenerational empathy

A 25-year University of Virginia study reveals that empathy can be passed through generations via relational patterns, moving from mothers to teenagers, then to friends, and eventually to the next generation of

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/university-of-virginia-study-tracks-intergenerational-empathy

### 2026-07-30: Meta‑analysis of 25,831 children shows empathy develops through relationships, not theory

A meta‑analysis of 25,831 children shows empathy grows through relationships, not theory, highlighted at ParentED Fest 2026 in Bucharest.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/metaanalysis-of-25831-children-shows-empathy-develops-through-relationships-not-theory

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Cite as: Research on empathy development and transmission. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/research-on-empathy-development-and-transmission