Reciprocal relations among self-efficacy beliefs and prosociality across time

J Pers. 2009 Aug;77(4):1229-59. doi: 10.1111/j.1467-6494.2009.00580.x. Epub 2009 May 19.

Abstract

The present study examined the longitudinal relations between individuals' prosociality and their self-efficacy beliefs in regard to emotional regulation and responding empathically to others' needs. The participants were 244 females and 222 males with a mean age of 17 years (SD=1.5) at T1, 19 years (SD=1.4) at T2, and 21 years (SD=1.6) at T3. The findings corroborated the posited paths of relations assigning empathic self-efficacy a major role in predicting the level of individuals' prosociality. Empathic self-efficacy beliefs mediated the relations of regulative emotional self-efficacy beliefs to prosocial tendencies such as caring, sharing, helping, and empathic concern toward others. The posited conceptual model accounted for a significant portion of variance in prosociality and has implications for interventions designed to promote and sustain prosociality.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Altruism
  • Attitude to Health
  • Empathy
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Individuality*
  • Internal-External Control
  • Interpersonal Relations*
  • Longitudinal Studies
  • Male
  • Personality Development*
  • Self Concept*
  • Self Efficacy*
  • Social Behavior
  • Socialization*
  • Time Factors
  • Young Adult