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. 2008 Apr;42(2):472-481.
doi: 10.1016/j.jrp.2007.06.003.

Gender Differences in Patterns of Association Between Prosocial Behavior, Personality, and Externalizing Problems

Gwen R Pursell  1 , Brett Laursen, Kenneth H Rubin, Cathryn Booth-Laforce, Linda Rose-Krasnor
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Free PMC article

Gender Differences in Patterns of Association Between Prosocial Behavior, Personality, and Externalizing Problems

Gwen R Pursell et al. J Res Pers. 2008 Apr.
Free PMC article

Abstract

This study examines whether prosocial behavior and personality have independent or overlapping associations with adolescent externalizing problems. A total of 128 female and 103 male early adolescents (M = 13.6 years old) completed personality inventories. Prosocial behavior was assessed by peer nominations (N = 663). Composite aggression and delinquency scores were derived from maternal and self-reports. Path analyses indicated gender differences in patterns of association. For girls, links between prosocial behavior and both aggression and delinquency were fully mediated by agreeableness and partially mediated by conscientiousness. For boys, prosocial behavior, agreeableness, and conscientiousness were independently and negatively associated with aggression and delinquency. The findings suggest that personality and prosocial behavior are uniquely related to boys' behavior problems but cannot be readily disentangled when it comes to girls' behavior problems.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. Direct and Indirect Associations from Prosocial Behavior and Personality to Aggression
Note. Final standardized regression weights and r2 are reported, with initial standardized regression weights and r2 in parentheses. *p < .05. **p < .01
Figure 2
Figure 2. Direct and Indirect Associations from Prosocial Behavior and Personality to Delinquency
Note. Final standardized regression weights and r2 are reported, with initial standardized regression weights and r2 in parentheses. *p < .05. **p < .01
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