Empathy and Self-Regulation as Mediators Between Parenting and Adolescents' Prosocial Behavior Toward Strangers, Friends, and Family

Abstract

The current study examined the role of empathy and self-regulation as mediators between positive parenting (mothering and fathering) and early adolescents' prosocial behavior toward 3 targets (strangers, friends, and family). Data were taken from Time 1 and Time 2 of the Flourishing Families Project, and included reports from 500 families with an early adolescent child (mean age of child at Time 1 5 11.29). Analyses suggested that predictors of prosocial behavior toward the 3 targets differed, with empathy (as reported by mothers only) and self-regulation mediating the relation between positive parenting and prosocial behavior toward strangers and friends, but not toward family. Positive mothering was the only variable that was significantly related to prosocial behavior toward family. The discussion focuses on the need for continued research examining a relational approach to prosocial development.

Associations Between Violent Video Gaming, Empathic Concern, and Prosocial Behavior Toward Strangers, Friends, and Family Members

“…In adolescence and emerging adulthood, higher levels of empathic concern or the broader construct of empathy have been linked to lower levels of antisocial behavior, including bullying (Boswell 2010), cyberbullying (Ang and Goh 2010), racial discrimination (Weyant 2007), theft and vandalism (Carrasco et al 2006), aggression (Lovett and Sheffield 2007) and delinquency (Hunter et al 2007). In addition, higher levels of empathic concern or empathy have been correlated with a host of positive developmental characteristics, including humor, forgiveness, and gratitude (Hampes 2001;Miley and Spinella 2006), as well as prosocial behavior (Findlay et al 2006;Tur et al 2004), particularly toward strangers and friends (Padilla-Walker and Christensen 2011). In order for an individual to act prosocially, he or she must first notice that another is in need, recognize an event as urgent, and then feel a personal responsibility to help (Bushman and Anderson 2009).…”

“…In addition we predicted that empathic concern would at least partially mediate the relationship between violent video gaming and prosocial behavior toward all targets. Again, we expected that the strongest effects would be seen in the relationships between empathic concern and prosocial behavior toward strangers, since greater empathic concern may be required to help an unknown other (Padilla-Walker and Christensen 2011) as opposed to helping a familiar person where prosocial behavior would be grounded in a well-established relationship (NatelVivier et al 2009). …”

Efectos de las prácticas parentales en la empatía y la conducta prosocial de preadolescentes

“…El estudio de las relaciones entre la empatía y la conducta prosocial son importantes por razones teóricas y prácticas (Roberts & Strayer, 1996). En específico, la empatía facilita la conducta prosocial en niñas, niños y adolescentes (Farrant, Devine, Maybery, & Fletcher, 2012;Jolliffe & Farrington, 2006;Padilla-Walker & Christensen, 2010). Las respuestas empáticas han sido el centro de diversas explicaciones de la conducta prosocial (Bar & Higgins-D'Alessandro, 2009), se ha mencionado que durante la niñez las intervenciones parentales representan uno de los elementos fundamentales para que niñas y niños experimenten sentimientos empáticos (Hoffman, 1963;2002).…”

Revisión del Cuestionario de Emociones Positivas para adolescentes. Propiedades psicométricas de la nueva versión abreviada

“…La prosocialidad es el comportamiento de ayuda o beneficio a otras personas, independientemente de las intenciones de esta ayuda (Eisenberg & Fabes, 1998). Esta puede abordarse de manera global o en contextos específicos (Carlo & Randall, 2002), pudiendo distinguirse personas mayormente prosociales de las que no lo son; así como evaluar especificidades del constructo, como las tendencias o motivaciones prosociales (Carlo & Randall, 2002;Richaud, Mesurado, & Kohan Cortada, 2012;Rodriguez, 2014) o la distinción de los beneficiarios del comportamiento de ayuda, ya sea familiares, amigos o extraños Padilla-Walker & Christensen, 2011).…”