Predictors of Prosocial Behavior among Chinese High School Students in Hong Kong

Abstract

This study examined the correlates and predictors of prosocial behavior among Chinese adolescents in Hong Kong. A sample of 518 high school students responded to a questionnaire containing measures of antisocial and prosocial behavior, prosocial norms, pragmatic values, moral reasoning, and empathy. Preliminary analyses showed that there were gender differences in some of the measures. While correlation analyses showed that parental education, prosocial norms, pragmatic values, moral reasoning, and empathy were related to prosocial behavior, regression analyses showed that prosocial norms, pragmatic values, and empathy dimensions (personal distress and empathy) were key predictors of it. The findings are largely consistent with theoretical predictions and previous research findings, other than the negative relationship between personal distress and prosocial behavior. The study also underscores the importance of values and norms in predicting prosocial behavior, which has been largely neglected in previous studies.

Individual and Social Predictors of Prosocial Behavior among Chinese Adolescents in Hong Kong

“…Empathy can be dispositional or learned ( 22 ), and it involves the interaction of emotional and cognitive processes in understanding people’s feeling, thinking, and experience ( 23 , 24 ). Empathy has been widely regarded as the foundation of prosocial and altruistic behavior ( 25 ), and young people with higher empathy are expected, and found, to be more prosocial ( 25 – 27 ).…”

“…Few studies have compared the relative importance of individual competence and social influence on prosocial behavior. It is hypothesized that, in a collectivist culture like the Chinese, social influence can have a more significant impact on prosocial behavior than individual choice ( 9 , 27 , 37 , 39 ). It is perhaps more important to adhere to social norms and moral expectations for helping and harmonious relationships than to be express one’s compassion and empathy through prosocial acts.…”

Verbal Bullying Changes Among Students Following an Educational Intervention Using the Integrated Model for Behavior Change

“…Family, school, and peer influences play an important role in the development of prosocial norms in individuals. In childhood parental influences are far greater but in adolescence the school environment has an important effect . Thus, school‐based interventions that can positively influence prosocial norms are important in reducing antisocial behavior.…”

Psychosocial functioning in pediatric patients with pectus excavatum and pectus carinatum

“…Prosocial behavior scores in the SDQ-SR and SDQ-PR were both lower in the operated group. Higher levels of prosocial behaviors are found to be related with higher levels of empathy (36). MIRPE and MIRPC are mainly considered for cosmetic reasons (3,4,7,20).…”

“…To the best of our knowledge, this finding related to prosociality in operated patients with pectus deformities is revealed for the first time in the literature. Prosocial development is considered to be associated with positive consequences in terms of self-esteem and social and academic skills (36,41). Prosociality should be explored in studies with larger samples from a more comprehensive perspective.…”