Search Results (33)

(1) Background: Rapid population aging in China intensifies physical and mental health challenges, including negative emotions and social barriers. Physical activity (PA) fosters resilience, adaptability, and successful aging through emotional and social benefits. This study examines the relationship between square-dancing exercise and psychological capital (PsyCap) in middle-aged and elderly individuals using cross-validation, subgroup analysis, and a cross-sequential design. (2) Methods: A cross-sectional study with 5714 participants employed a serial mediation model. Online questionnaires assessed square-dancing exercise, cognitive reappraisal, prosocial behavior tendencies, PsyCap, and interpersonal relationships. Statistical analyses were conducted using SPSS 27.0 and Mplus 8.3, incorporating correlation analysis, structural equation modeling, and subgroup comparisons. (3) Results: (a) Cognitive reappraisal and prosocial behavior mediated the link between square-dancing and PsyCap through three pathways; (b) model stability was confirmed across two random subsamples; (c) cross-group differences emerged in age and interpersonal relationships. Compared with secondary data, this study further validated PsyCap’s stability over six months post-pandemic. (4) Conclusions: The study, based on China’s largest square-dancing sample, establishes a robust serial mediation model. The findings strengthen theoretical foundations for PA-based interventions promoting psychological resilience in aging populations, highlighting structured exercise’s role in mental and social well-being. Full article

Given the continued relevance of perceived scarcity, understanding how a scarcity mindset influences human cooperation remains critical. However, previous research has yielded mixed results regarding this relationship. To clarify these inconsistencies, this study examined the impact of a scarcity mindset on cooperation within various social normative contexts. Participants were randomly assigned to either a scarcity or abundance mindset and engaged in a Public Goods Game under descriptive or injunctive normative conditions, each with high or low prosocial expectations. The results revealed that in both normative contexts, individuals with a scarcity mindset exhibited greater cooperation than those with an abundance mindset. Individuals also cooperated more under high prosocial norms compared to low ones. Importantly, the interaction effect revealed that while cooperation did not differ between the two mindsets under low prosocial norms, the scarcity mindset led to significantly greater cooperation under high prosocial norms. These findings provide new insights into the scarcity–cooperation dynamic and suggest that robust prosocial norms can amplify the cooperative tendencies associated with a scarcity mindset, highlighting the importance of leveraging social norms to enhance cooperation in resource-scarce situations. Full article

In this study, we examined the role of intellectual humility (IH) as an antecedent of individual attitude toward sustainable tourism viewed from the lens of personality trait theory, virtue ethics theory, and regenerative tourism principles within a stakeholder framework. Data were collected via Qualtrics in an online survey of 233 adults in the United States. A series of confirmatory factor analyses (CFA) were applied to the data to test the measurement model. In addition, a bifactor CFA was found to have acceptable fit and appropriate in controlling for common method variance. A series of covariance-based structural equations models (SEMs) was estimated to test the hypothesized model while controlling for common method variance in addition to individual age and gender. Using the chi-square difference test for nested model comparison, we found that intellectual humility was a significant antecedent of the negative ecological impact of tourism (β = 0.14, p < 0.01) while its relationships with economic and social impacts of travel became non-significant after controlling for common method variance. Pro-social tendency, operationalized as HEXACO Honesty–Humility, was also a significant antecedent of the negative ecological impact (β = 0.17) and positive economic impact (β = −0.34) of tourism, after controlling for common method variance. Despite its limitations due to its cross-sectional design and use of self-report data in the U.S., this study was novel in introducing intellectual humility as an important virtue to be cultivated at the individual level to achieve a holistic approach to sustainable tourism, especially in shaping destination choices. In addition, the study highlights the need to detect common method variance in self-report data via bifactor CFA to avoid erroneous reporting of significant findings, hampering our collective research efforts to address climate change and its impact. Full article

The motivational dimensions of volunteer tourists have been a focal point of scholarly debate, closely aligning with their prosocial orientations. Limited attention has been given to examining these relationships through the lens of identity formation among young tourists. To address this gap, this study conducted a two-wave longitudinal investigation into the linkage between volunteer tourists’ self-determined motivation and their prosocial orientation, with identity processing styles serving as a mediator. The sample (n = 291) consisted of freshmen and sophomores participating in a volunteer teaching program during the summer of 2024. We measured the variables of interest both before and after their attendance. In addition to direct effects, our findings observed two significant indirect pathways: (1) Wave 1 autonomous motivation was positively associated with an informational identity style at Wave 1, which predicted Wave 2 other-oriented helping tendency; and (2) Wave 1 controlled motivation was positively related to a normative identity style at Wave 1, which accounted for self-oriented helping propensity at Wave 2. Furthermore, the first relationship was uni-directional, as the coefficient for the reverse pathway (i.e., Wave 1 other-oriented helping → Wave 1 informational identity style → Wave 2 autonomous motivation) was not significant. In contrast, the second relationship was bi-directional, wherein Wave 1 self-oriented helping was positively associated with a normative identity style at Wave 1, which subsequently predicted Wave 2 controlled motivation. Taken together, our study contributes to the literature on altruistic motives, prosocial behavior, identity development, and volunteer tourism. Full article

Empathy is crucial for social cohesion and prosocial behavior, yet the influence of a target’s materialism on observers’ empathy remains underexplored. This research investigates whether and how a target’s materialistic tendencies influence observers’ empathy, and the mechanisms underlying this effect. We proposed three hypotheses: (H1) observers exhibit less empathy for materialistic individuals compared to nonmaterialistic ones; (H2) perceived low morality mediates the negative effect of target materialism on empathy; and (H3) perceived lack of warmth also serves as a mediator. Across four studies, we tested these hypotheses. Study 1 (n = 190) found a significant difference in observers’ empathy toward high versus low materialistic targets. Study 2 (n = 362) demonstrated that this effect resulted from decreased empathy toward materialistic individuals rather than increased empathy toward nonmaterialistic ones, and together with Study 1, supported H1. Study 3 (n = 375) ruled out perceived social class as an alternative explanation, providing additional evidence for the independent effect of target materialism on empathy. Study 4 (n = 785) tested H2 and H3, and confirmed that perceived morality and perceived warmth both significantly mediated the effect of target materialism on observers’ empathy. These findings enhance our understanding of the negative social consequences of materialism and contribute to the literature on selective empathy and person perception. Full article

Understanding the role of collectivism in shaping prosocial behavior is critical for advancing theories of social cooperation and group dynamics. This study provides the first empirical examination of collectivistic orientation within the Ultra-Orthodox (Haredi) community using the Horizontal and Vertical Individualism-Collectivism (HVIC) framework. Data from 702 participants revealed a predominant collectivist orientation, with a particularly strong emphasis on balanced collectivism. The study further explored how collectivist and individualist tendencies predict helping behaviors toward in-group and out-group members. Results indicate that conservatism positively predicts in-group prosocial behavior but negatively predicts out-group assistance, whereas balanced collectivism and individualism are associated with increased out-group helping. The strongest predictor of out-group assistance was an individual’s inherent disposition to help, suggesting that prosocial behavior extends beyond purely communal expectations and positions these individuals as natural agents of community change. This insight offers a perspective on how personal characteristics may contribute to community renewal. Our study contributes to cross-cultural research on collectivism and prosocial behavior by emphasizing the role of power orientation and resource allocation in shaping altruistic tendencies, while demonstrating that vertical orientations tend to reinforce in-group preferences. Full article

This study explored the psychological determinants of pro-environmental behaviors through a multidimensional approach, integrating the roles of self-efficacy, personality traits and environmental attitudes (verbal, actual and affective commitment). While previous research has primarily examined general ecological engagement, this study differentiated between three specific domains: general ecological behaviors, prosocial and volunteering actions in the ecological context, and household chemical usage. A sample of 669 participants completed measures assessing the Big Five personality traits, self-efficacy and environmental commitment dimensions. Regression analyses revealed that environmental attitudes were the strongest predictors of general ecological behavior, while actual commitment, self-efficacy and extraversion played key roles in prosocial engagement and volunteering in the ecological context. Neuroticism and extraversion emerged as the strongest predictors of household chemical usage. The study suggests that the influence of personality traits on pro-environmental behavior may be context-dependent, with certain traits playing a more significant role when the behavior involves direct social engagement. Additionally, our findings emphasize the importance of fostering environmental commitment as a key driver of sustained ecological behavior, rather than relying solely on personality-driven tendencies or self-efficacy. Full article

Although narcissism consistently predicts maladaptive behaviors, the relationship between narcissism and prosocial behavior remains controversial due to the paradoxical nature of narcissism. In three studies, we investigated the roles of situational and motivational factors in the link between narcissism and prosocial behavior. In Study 1 (n = 932), a questionnaire survey revealed that trait narcissism positively predicted prosocial behavior tendencies only in public situations as opposed to anonymous situations. In Study 2 (n = 200) and 3 (n = 170), we manipulated individuals’ state narcissism through story-based primes and measured prosocial behavior via actual monetary donations. Both Studies 2 and 3 consistently demonstrated that participants in the state narcissism group exhibited greater prosocial behavior in public situations compared to anonymous ones. Furthermore, the findings of Study 3 indicated that the increased prosocial behavior observed in public situations could be attributed to heightened self-enhancement. These findings contribute to a more nuanced understanding of the relationship between narcissism and prosocial behavior. Full article

The aim of this study was to analyze the reciprocal effects between prosociality, peer support and psychological well-being using a four-wave longitudinal study and a within-person analytical approach (random intercept cross-lagged panel model, RI-CLPM). A sample of 587 adolescents (males = 308; M_age = 14.23, SD = 0.58) enrolled in the first year of high school (9th grade) were recruited and followed over four years from 2016 (Time 1 [T1]) to 2019 (Time 4 [T4]). Once a year, they filled in a questionnaire measuring prosociality, peer support, and psychological well-being. The results from the RI-CLPM revealed that, at the between-person level, prosociality, peer support and psychological well-being were all positively associated. Conversely, at the within-person level and at all survey points, only psychological well-being positively predicted prosociality one year later. Specifically, we found that adolescents with higher levels of psychological well-being were more likely to show a tendency for prosocial behaviors over time. Promoting interventions aimed at enhancing psychological well-being may make adolescents more likely to engage in positive behaviors, such as prosocial ones, in a variety of contexts, thereby creating favorable social environments. Full article

Fairness-related decision-making often involves a conflict between egoistic and prosocial motives. Previous research based on Terror Management Theory (TMT) indicates that mortality salience can promote both selfish and prosocial behaviors, leaving its effect on fairness-related decision-making uncertain. This study integrates TMT with the strength model of self-control to investigate the effects of mortality salience on fairness-related decision-making and to examine the moderating role of dispositional self-control. Participants were primed with either mortality salience or negative affect and then asked to make a series of binary choices (equal allocation vs. unequal allocation favoring themselves) to distribute monetary resources. In both studies, mortality salience heightened selfish tendencies, leading to less equitable monetary allocation. Study 2 further revealed that this effect occurred among participants with low, but not high, self-control. These findings indicate that mortality salience promotes selfishness and inequitable monetary allocation, but that self-control can buffer these effects. Full article

Prosocial behavior is fundamental for healthcare students, shaped by their traits and the external environment. Online information seeking is the most commonly used way for healthcare students to access pandemics; however, it is unclear whether the willingness of healthcare students to help others will be affected by pandemic information via the Internet environment. The current study takes the COVID-19 pandemic as an example, investigating how 81 healthcare students with varying prosocial tendencies behaved helpfully after being exposed to pandemic-related pictures online. Study 1 measured the influence of emotional contagion (positive emotion/negative emotion) from online information on students’ prosocial behavior; Study 2 examined online information’s influence on prosocial behavior by controlling individuals’ epistemic motivation (goal-directed task/no-goal-directed task) to gain pandemic information. The results indicated that negative pandemic information was more likely to influence students with low prosocial tendencies, which would then lead to a decrease in prosocial actions (F = 7.842, p = 0.005). Further, students with low prosocial tendencies were more likely to engage in prosocial behavior when they did not aim goal-directed attention to the pandemic-related information, compared to those with goal-directed attention (F = 9.159, p = 0.003). Participants with high prosocial tendencies did not differ much in helping others (p > 0.05). The results indicated that only healthcare students with limited prosocial tendencies were less inclined to assist others after receiving negative information about the pandemic. Thus, reducing their deliberate approach to online information related to the pandemic will increase their chances of taking prosocial behavior. Full article

Traumatic experiences and maltreatment are highly prevalent among adolescents in foster or institutional care and have severe long-term effects on mental health. Childhood maltreatment increases the risk of revictimization. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of the internet-based prevention program EMPOWER YOUTH in reducing victimization experiences among youth with care experience. A total of 163 youth, that is, adolescents in foster or institutional care, adopted adolescents, or young care leavers aged 14 to 21 years (M_age = 17.68 years; SD = 2.11) were randomized to the six-module guided program or a wait-list control group. The primary endpoint was the decrease in victimization experiences at an 18-week follow-up. Secondary endpoints included risk perception, aggressive tendencies, empathy, prosocial behavior, depressiveness, post-traumatic stress symptoms, and loneliness. About half of the youth exhibited increased psychopathology. No significant interaction between time-point and group was found for victimization measures, though both groups saw a significant reduction over time (p = 0.012, η_p² = 0.06; p = 0.017, η_p² = 0.06). The intervention group showed a significant increase in perception of thrill-seeking and rebellious risks (p = 0.036, η_p² = 0.04; p = 0.026, η_p² = 0.05). While EMPOWER YOUTH effectively increased risk perception of thrill-seeking and rebellious behaviors, it should be considered an add-on to more intensive interventions for common mental health disorders in this vulnerable group, rather than a stand-alone online program. Full article

Background: Theory of mind (ToM), the ability to recognize the mental states and emotions of others, is central to effective social relationships. Measuring higher-order ToM skills in gifted children may be a useful way to identify the tendency to experience difficulties in social behavior. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between intelligence and sex in children using ToM and social behavior measures. Methods: Children aged 10–12 years constituted both the gifted (n = 45) and non-gifted (n = 45) groups. The participants were assessed for prosocial behaviors and peer problems using the subscales of the Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire and in terms of ToM using the Reading the Mind in the Eyes Test-Child Version (RMET-C) and the Faux Pas Recognition Test-Child Version (FPRT-C). Results: ToM test results were higher in gifted children and girls. Peer problems were lower in gifted children. Prosocial behavior was higher in girls. No relationship was determined between ToM tests and peer problems or prosocial behavior in gifted children, but such a relationship was observed in the non-gifted group. Conclusions: This study shows that gifted children with high cognitive skills also possess superior social cognition skills. Advanced ToM skills in gifted children may be important to supporting their social and cognitive development. The differences between boys and girls should be considered in educational interventions applied to children in the social sphere. Full article

For sustainable educational integration, universities are tasked with the aim of educating specialists who are chosen based on particular criteria in order to promote sustainable development. In the domain of social work, it is crucial to take into account young individuals who express a desire to pursue studies in this field and who have prosocial orientations and tendencies. This research was based on the application of a Prosocial Orientation Questionnaire on a group of 238 students (M—2.4 years, 89.5% female) using questions with a purpose, but also a scale for measuring prosocial tendencies (PTM). The findings regarding the prosocial guidelines highlighted the role of the family in the multidimensional development of prosocial behaviour (PSB), but also the involvement in voluntary activities. The results revealed a high association with the six scales of PTM, with higher values being obtained for three dimensions (Compliant, Dire, Emotional) that show a stronger development. Assessing prosocial orientations and tendencies can help select a career and pursue university courses in the social field. The use of these instruments provides evidence of the effectiveness of PTM in assessing prosocial tendencies and supports the idea that PSB is multidimensional. This is demonstrated by the correlations observed in young individuals pursuing a social career. Full article

The increase in the use of the Internet, strongly boosted by the spread of COVID-19, has amplified the risk of involvement in cyberbullying and online grooming among minors. To date, most research on these phenomena has focused on middle and high school students, with fewer studies on younger children. The present study aims to fill this knowledge gap by measuring the spread of cyberbullying and online grooming in a sample of 410 primary school students in the city of Rome and by identifying the main individual and environmental predictors associated with the involvement of children in these phenomena using factor analysis. Results indicate that both cyberbullying and online grooming are widespread among respondents, showing common traits within the four latent dimensions identified. Screen time is among the main predictors of children’s involvement, together with parental supervision, phubbing behaviours, prosocial tendencies and family socio-economic background. These findings highlight the need for further studies on representative samples of this age group, as well as for a greater cooperative effort among schools, parents and caregivers to keep children safe in the virtual world. Full article