Prevalensi depresi ditemukan tinggi pada mahasiswa. Salah satu faktor risiko adalah mengalami masalah interpersonal, seperti konflik dengan orang tua. Komunikasi menjadi menantang karena kultur Asia yang menunjukkan adanya hierarki pada hubungan orang tua dan anak. Kondisi ini rentan menimbulkan adanya kesalahpahaman antara orang tua dan anak ketika komunikasi dilakukan tanpa empati. Kemampuan empati bisa membantu untuk memahami orang tua. Dalam upaya menurunkan gejala depresi, intervensi empati dikembangkan. Penelitian ini melihat perubahan gejala depresi setelah pemberian intervensi empati, dengan mengukur kepuasan hidup dan empati sebagai analisis tambahan. Desain penelitian adalah quasi-experimental one-group design (n = 9). Kriteria inklusi penelitian adalah mahasiswa di Indonesia yang menunjukkan adanya gejala depresi (cut off = 10). Partisipan yang memenuhi kriteria mendapatkan lima sesi intervensi. Partisipan direkrut melalui media sosial dan mengisi Patient Health Questionnaire-9, Interpersonal Reactivity Index, and Satisfaction With Life Scale sebelum dan sesudah intervensi. Perubahan setiap partisipan dilihat secara kuantitatif dan kualitatif. Analisis statistik menggunakan Repeated Measure Anova, menunjukkan adanya penurunan gejala depresi (F(1.06,7.46) = 7.88, p = .02, η2 = .53) dan peningkatan kepuasan terhadap hidup (F(2,14) = 8.39, p = .04, η2 = .54) setelah pemberian intervensi. Tetapi, tidak terlihat perubahan yang signifikan pada skor empati (F(2,14) = 0.56, p = .58, η2 = .07). Data kualitatif menunjukkan adanya peningkatan kemampuan dalam komunikasi empati yang membuat mereka memahami intensi orang tua, meningkatkan toleransi terhadap stres, serta menerima kondisi keluarganya. Sehingga, intervensi empati menunjukkan adanya efek positif pada individu dengan gejala depresi yang mengalami masalah dengan orang tua.

---

The prevalence of depression among college students is high. One of the factors that can exacerbate depressive symptoms is having interpersonal issues, such as a conflict with parents. Parent-children communication is challenging in Asian cultures due to family hierarchies and ambiguous communication. When there is no empathic communication between parents and children, the condition is prone to misunderstandings. Empathy skill may be advantageous since it helps college students better understand their parents. To alleviate depressive symptoms, an empathy intervention is essential. This study investigates how empathy can lessen the symptoms of depression. A quasi-experimental one-group design (n = 9) was conducted in this study. The inclusion criteria for participants are college students in Indonesia with depressive symptoms (cut-off = 10). The participant who met the criteria received a total of five intervention sessions. Participants were recruited via social media and completed the Patient Health Questionnaire-9, Interpersonal Reactivity Index, and Satisfaction With Life Scale before and after the intervention to assess the change in depressive symptoms. Quantitative and qualitative result changes were examined. Using Repeated Measure Anova, depressive symptom is decreased (F(1.06,7.46) = 7.88, p = .02, η2 = .53) and satisfaction with life score is increased (F(2,14) = 8.39, p = .04, η2 = .54) after intervention. Furthermore, there is no significant change in empathic level (F(2,14) = 0.56, p = .58, η2 = .07). Qualitative data showed that empathic communication skills assist them in understanding their parents' intentions, improving their stress tolerance, and accepting their family situation. Therefore, empathy intervention shown beneficial effects on individuals with depressive symptoms who have conflict with their parents.