The influence of empathy on food allergy training effectiveness: An experimental study with foodservice employees in the U.S.

This study aimed to examine the effects of empathy intervention on food allergy training through a between-subjects factorial experiment. A total of 388 foodservice employees participated, with half randomly assigned to the control group and half to the intervention group. Participants in the intervention group were shown a video describing a food allergy death to elicit empathic responses. Results showed that the intervention video elicited higher empathic responses toward food allergy victims among foodservice employees than those in the control group. Empathic responses positively related to post-training food allergy knowledge acquisition and practices. Emotional attachment and attitude towards food allergy training mediated the relationships between empathic responses and post-training knowledge acquisition and post-training practices. Meanwhile, prosocial motivations moderated the indirect effects of empathy intervention on post-training food allergy knowledge acquisition and food allegory practices through empathic response and emotional attachment/attitude towards the training. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.