Associations between prosocial behavior, externalizing behaviors, and internalizing symptoms during adolescence: A meta‐analysis

Abstract

Introduction:The purpose of this study was to conduct a meta-analysis investigating the consistency and strength of relations between prosocial behavior, externalizing behaviors, and internalizing symptoms from preadolescence (i.e., 1-9 years) to late adolescence (i.e., 19-25 years). This study directly addresses inconsistencies and gaps in the available literature by providing the field with a detailed, synthesized description of these associations. Method: Fifty-five studies met the inclusion criteria, containing 742 independent correlational effect sizes. Statistical information and other study information was coded and entered into Comprehensive Meta-analysis III software, which was used to analyze results. Results: Results showed that higher levels of prosocial behavior were significantly associated with lower levels of externalizing behaviors, as expected. Additionally, more reported prosocial behavior was related to less reported internalizing symptoms. Follow-up analyses revealed specific relationships between prosocial behavior and aggression, deviant peer association, risky sexual behavior, substance use, delinquency/general externalizing behavior, depression, and general internalizing behaviors (i.e., emotional problems, negative emotionality). A variety of moderators of these associations were considered, including age and sex. Conclusions: Findings are discussed in the context of the broader research literature, weaknesses in the field are noted, and numerous meaningful directions for future research are presented.Prosocial behavior is defined as voluntary behavior intended to benefit others and comes in many types, such as comforting, sharing, volunteering, donating, and offering physical or emotional assistance to others, etc. (Eisenberg, Spinrad, & Knafo-Noam, 2015). Prosocial behavior is relevant to adolescents, whose prosocial opportunities expand (Padilla-Walker, Dyer, Yorgason, Fraser, & Coyne, 2015a), and who are especially sensitive to the quality and types of interactions they have with those in their social networks (e.g., parents and peers, Allen et al., 2003;Masten et al., 2009). In light of the developmental significance of prosocial behavior, a growing body of recent research identifies prosocial behavior as protective against myriad problematic outcomes, including but not limited to aggression (

Adolescents’ Prosocial Behaviors Through a Multidimensional and Multicultural Lens

“…Prosocial actions are valued highly in all societies and form the basis for moral exemplars, positive intergroup relationships, societal harmony, and cooperation (Carlo, 2014; Colby & Damon, 1994). Moreover, growing evidence points to links between prosocial behaviors and less frequent antisocial behaviors (e.g., illegal substance use, aggression, delinquency), academic outcomes (e.g., academic self‐efficacy, grade point average), physical health (e.g., C‐reactive proteins, life expectancy), and psychological adjustment (e.g., anxiety, depression; Chen et al, 2019; Jung & Schröder‐Abé, 2019; Memmott‐Elison, Holmgren, Padilla‐Walker, & Hawkins, 2020). Thus, scholars, educators, practitioners, and policymakers interested in fostering health, character development, and social well‐being are focused on understanding the antecedents, development, and consequences of prosocial behaviors.…”

Relations between stress, coping strategies, and prosocial behavior in U.S. Mexican college students

“…Understanding the role of stressful experiences on U.S. Mexican college students' positive social adjustment, and possible explanatory mechanisms of this association, is a public health priority that, if addressed, can inform future basic research and applied workers' efforts to support these individuals' general adjustment during a stressful period. One marker of positive social adjustment is prosocial behavior, 3 which is defined as behavior intended to benefit others. 4 Although there are several forms of prosocial behaviors, one important form of prosocial behavior linked to other indicators of social well-being is emotional prosocial behavior (i.e., helping others in emotionally salient situations 5 ) Emotional prosocial behavior is of interest to scholars because individuals who are able to help others in emotionally evocative situations are likely able to regulate their emotionality and avoid personal distress, 6 perhaps even in the face of numerous sources of stress (i.e., stressors).…”

Adolescents’ Bipolar Experiences and Suicide Risk: Well-being and Mental Health Difficulties as Mediators

“…The primary path had a greater impact on boys, whereas the secondary path had a greater prevalence in girls. The gender differences reflect the way in which maladjustment is expressed [95]. In females it takes the form of internalizing problems, such as sadness and withdrawal, which could be associated with greater vulnerability to depression [96], and in males it takes the form of externalizing problems, like distractibility, impulsivity, and hyperactivity, which is associated with behavioral disorders [97,98].…”