This study investigates the mechanism by which parental behavioral control influences high school students’ prosocial behavior, focusing on the mediating roles of psychological resilience and gratitude. Analyzing data from 938 students, the authors find that parental control positively predicts prosocial behavior directly and indirectly through psychological resilience and a chain mediation of resilience to gratitude. However, gratitude alone does not serve as an independent mediator between parental control and prosocial behavior.
References
[1]
Pfattheicher, S., Nielsen, Y.A. and Thielmann, I. (2022) Prosocial Behavior and Altruism: A Review of Concepts and Definitions. CurrentOpinioninPsychology, 44, 124-129. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.copsyc.2021.08.021
[2]
Wang, M., Wang, J., Deng, X. and Chen, W. (2019) Why Are Empathic Children More Liked by Peers? The Mediating Roles of Prosocial and Aggressive Behaviors. PersonalityandIndividualDifferences, 144, 19-23. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2019.02.029
[3]
Arslan, G. (2021) Social Ostracism in School Context: Academic Self-Concept, Prosocial Behaviour, and Adolescents’ Conduct Problems. TheEducationalandDevelopmentalPsychologist, 38, 24-35. https://doi.org/10.1080/20590776.2020.1834830
[4]
Miles, A., Andiappan, M., Upenieks, L. and Orfanidis, C. (2022) Using Prosocial Behavior to Safeguard Mental Health and Foster Emotional Well-Being during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Registered Report of a Randomized Trial. PLOSONE, 17, e0272152. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0272152
[5]
Nelson, S.K. (2015) The Effects of Prosocial and Self-Focused Behaviors on Psycho-logical Flourishing. Master’s Thesis, University of California.
[6]
Yang, Y. and Kou, Y. (2015) Individuals’ Well-Being in Prosocial Interaction: The Role of Autonomy. AdvancesinPsychologicalScience, 23, 1226-1235. https://doi.org/10.3724/sp.j.1042.2015.01226
[7]
Lei, X., Zhao, D., Yang, W. and Tian, X. (2022) The Relationship between Adolescents’ Family Function and Prosocial Behavior: A Moderated Mediation Model. Psychological Development and Education, 38, 786-792.
[8]
You, Z., Guo, Y., Zhang, L. and Li, X. (2025) The Relationship between Interparental Conflict and Prosocial Behavior in Adolescents: The Role of Interpersonal Trust and Empathy. Psychological Development and Education, 41, 51-59.
[9]
Wentzel, K.R. (1993) Does Being Good Make the Grade? Social Behavior and Academic Competence in Middle School. JournalofEducationalPsychology, 85, 357-364. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-0663.85.2.357
[10]
Padilla-Walker, L.M. and Carlo, G. (2015) Prosocial Development: A Multidimensional Approach. Oxford University Press.
[11]
Lerner, R.M., Lerner, J.V., Almerigi, J. and Theokas, C. (2006) Dynamics of Individual-Context Relations in Human Development: A Developmental Systems Perspective. In: Thomas, J.C. and Hersen, M., Eds., Comprehensive Handbook of Personality and Psychopathology, Wiley, 23-43.
[12]
Lin, J., Xu, B., Yang, Y., Zhang, Q. and Kou, Y. (2024) Network Analysis and Core Dimensions of Adolescent Prosocial Behavior. ActaPsychologicaSinica, 56, 1252-1264. https://doi.org/10.3724/sp.j.1041.2024.01252
[13]
Barber, B.K., Stolz, H.E. and Olsen, J.A. (2005) Parental Support, Psychological Control, and Behavioral Control: Assessing Relevance across Time, Culture, and Method. Monographs of the Society for Research in Child Development, 70, 1-137.
[14]
Beavers, R. and Hampson, R.B. (2000) The Beavers Systems Model of Family Functioning. JournalofFamilyTherapy, 22, 128-143. https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-6427.00143
[15]
Eisenberg, N. and Mussen, P.H. (1989) The Roots of Prosocial Behavior in Children. Cambridge University Press. https://doi.org/10.1017/cbo9780511571121
[16]
Eisenberg, N. and Spinrad, T.L. (2014) Multidimensionality of Prosocial Behavior: Rethinking the Conceptualization and Development of Prosocial Behavior. In: Padilla-Walker, L.M. and Carlo, G., Eds., Prosocial behavior: A multidimensional approach, Oxford University Press, 17-39. https://doi.org/10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199964772.003.0002
[17]
Dong, X.J. (2018) The Impact of Parental Control on High School Students’ Prosocial Behavior: The Mediating Role of Emotion Regulation. Master’s Thesis, Jilin University.
Wang, Q., Pomerantz, E.M. and Chen, H. (2007) The Role of Parents’ Control in Early Adolescents’ Psychological Functioning: A Longitudinal Investigation in the United States and China. ChildDevelopment, 78, 1592-1610. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-8624.2007.01085.x
[20]
Hu, Y.Q. and Gan, Y.Q. (2008) Development and Validation of the Adolescent Psychological Resilience Scale. Acta Psychologica Sinica, 40, 902-912.
[21]
Mandleco, B.L. (2000) An Organizational Framework for Conceptualizing Resilience in Children. JournalofChildandAdolescentPsychiatricNursing, 13, 99-112. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1744-6171.2000.tb00086.x
[22]
Tian, L., Liu, L. and Shan, N. (2018) Parent-Child Relationships and Resilience among Chinese Adolescents: The Mediating Role of Self-Esteem. FrontiersinPsychology, 9, Article 1030. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2018.01030
[23]
Masten, A.S. (2007) Resilience in Developing Systems: Progress and Promise as the Fourth Wave Rises. DevelopmentandPsychopathology, 19, 921-930. https://doi.org/10.1017/s0954579407000442
[24]
Masten, A.S. (2018) Resilience Theory and Research on Children and Families: Past, Present, and Promise. JournalofFamilyTheory&Review, 10, 12-31. https://doi.org/10.1111/jftr.12255
[25]
Baldwin, A.L. (1948) Socialization and the Parent-Child Relationship. ChildDevelopment, 19, 127-136. https://doi.org/10.2307/1125710
[26]
Devi, A. and Singh, S. (2021) Effect of Parenting Style on Resilience among Adolescents. Elementary Education Online, 20, 3126-3132.
[27]
Ramolale, M., Malete, L. and Ju, U. (2021) Mediational Role of Mental Toughness on the Relationship between Self-Efficacy and Prosocial/Antisocial Behavior in Elite Youth Sport. FrontiersinPsychology, 12, Article 745323. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.745323
[28]
Yang, L., Zhao, P.L., Shi, Z.B., et al. (2012) The Relationship between Parenting Styles, Psychological Resilience, and Subjective Well-Being of College Students. Journal of Third Military Medical University, 34, 2518-2521.
[29]
Esparza-Reig, J., González-Sala, F. and Martí-Vilar, M. (2021) Social Support and Resilience to Foster Prosocial Behaviours during the COVID-19 Pandemic Confinement: An Explanatory Model [Apoyo social y resiliencia para fomentar las conductas prosociales durante el confinamiento por la COVID-19: Un modelo explicativo]. StudiesinPsychology, 42, 701-719. https://doi.org/10.1080/02109395.2021.1971898
[30]
He, A.M., Liu, H.S. and Hui, Q.P. (2013) Construction of a Three-Dimensional Theoretical Model of Gratitude. Psychological Research, 6, 11-17.
[31]
McCullough, M.E., Kilpatrick, S.D., Emmons, R.A. and Larson, D.B. (2001) Is Gratitude a Moral Affect? PsychologicalBulletin, 127, 249-266. https://doi.org/10.1037/0033-2909.127.2.249
[32]
Zhao, G., Kong, F.C., Liu, Z.J., et al. (2018) The Effect of Parental Emotional Warmth on Adolescents’ Gratitude: The Mediating Roles of Responsibility and Belief in a Just World. Psychological Development and Education, 34, 257-263.
[33]
Wang, Y.D., Kong, F.C., Zhao, G., et al. (2020) The Influence of Parenting Styles on Adolescents’ Gratitude: The Mediating Role of Psychological Entitlement and Perspective-Taking. Psychological Development and Education, 36, 422-429.
[34]
Tsang, J. (2006) Brief Report Gratitude and Prosocial Behaviour: An Experimental Test of Gratitude. Cognition&Emotion, 20, 138-148. https://doi.org/10.1080/02699930500172341
[35]
An, L.C., Zhang, S.C., Wang, H., et al. (2018) The Relationship between College Students’ Religious Beliefs, Gratitude, Interpersonal Forgiveness, and Prosocial Behavior. Chinese Journal of Clinical Psychology, 26, 154-158.
[36]
Kardaş, F. and Yalçın, İ. (2018) Şükran: Ruh Sağlığı Alanında Güncel Bir Kavram. PsikiyatrideGuncelYaklasimlar—CurrentApproachesinPsychiatry, 10, 1-18. https://doi.org/10.18863/pgy.334494
[37]
Ye, Z., Yang, X., Zeng, C., Wang, Y., Shen, Z., Li, X., et al. (2020) Resilience, Social Support, and Coping as Mediators between Covid-19-Related Stressful Experiences and Acute Stress Disorder among College Students in China. AppliedPsychology: HealthandWell-Being, 12, 1074-1094. https://doi.org/10.1111/aphw.12211
[38]
Ghanei Gheshlagh, R., Sayehmiri, K., Ebadi, A., Dalvandi, A., Dalvand, S., Maddah, S.S.B., et al. (2017) The Relationship between Mental Health and Resilience: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. IranianRedCrescentMedicalJournal, 19, e13537. https://doi.org/10.5812/ircmj.13537
[39]
Mesman, E., Vreeker, A. and Hillegers, M. (2021) Resilience and Mental Health in Children and Adolescents: An Update of the Recent Literature and Future Directions. CurrentOpinioninPsychiatry, 34, 586-592. https://doi.org/10.1097/yco.0000000000000741
[40]
Friborg, O., Barlaug, D., Martinussen, M., Rosenvinge, J.H. and Hjemdal, O. (2005) Resilience in Relation to Personality and Intelligence. InternationalJournalofMethodsinPsychiatricResearch, 14, 29-42. https://doi.org/10.1002/mpr.15
[41]
Lasota, A., Tomaszek, K. and Bosacki, S. (2020) How to Become More Grateful? The Mediating Role of Resilience between Empathy and Gratitude. CurrentPsychology, 41, 6848-6857. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-020-01178-1
[42]
Alkozei, A., Smith, R. and Killgore, W.D.S. (2017) Grateful People Are Happy and Healthy—But Why? FrontiersforYoungMinds, 5, Article 55. https://doi.org/10.3389/frym.2017.00055
[43]
Măirean, C., Turliuc, M.N. and Arghire, D. (2018) The Relationship between Trait Gratitude and Psychological Wellbeing in University Students: The Mediating Role of Affective State and the Moderating Role of State Gratitude. JournalofHappinessStudies, 20, 1359-1377. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10902-018-9998-7
[44]
Dwiwardani, C., Ord, A.S., Fennell, M., Eaves, D., Ripley, J.S., Perkins, A., et al. (2017) Spelling HUMBLE with U and ME: The Role of Perceived Humility in Intimate Partner Relationships. TheJournalofPositivePsychology, 13, 449-459. https://doi.org/10.1080/17439760.2017.1291849
[45]
Shiraki, Y. and Igarashi, T. (2018) “Paying It Forward” via Satisfying a Basic Human Need: The Need for Relatedness Satisfaction Mediates Gratitude and Prosocial Behavior. AsianJournalofSocialPsychology, 21, 107-113. https://doi.org/10.1111/ajsp.12211
[46]
Kou, Y. (2017) Theory and Methods for Promoting Adolescents’ Prosocial Behavior. Beijing Normal University Press, 53-81. (In Chinese)
[47]
Zhou, H. and Long, L.R. (2004) Statistical Tests and Control Methods for Common Method Bias. Advances in Psychological Science, 12, 942-950.
[48]
Leung, J.T.Y. and Shek, D.T.L. (2019) Parental Control and Adolescent Wellbeing in Chinese Adolescents in Hong Kong. ChildIndicatorsResearch, 13, 703-727. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12187-019-09642-6
[49]
Yoo, H., Feng, X. and Day, R.D. (2013) Adolescents’ Empathy and Prosocial Behavior in the Family Context: A Longitudinal Study. JournalofYouthandAdolescence, 42, 1858-1872. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10964-012-9900-6
[50]
Yuan, W.W., Zhang, X.H., Meng, K.B., et al. (2024) The Impact of Family Functioning on College Students’ Life Satisfaction: The Chain Mediating Role of Meaning in Life and Psychological Resilience. China Journal of Health Psychology, 32, 498-502.
[51]
Luo, Y., Ma, T. and Deng, Y. (2023) School Climate and Adolescents’ Prosocial Behavior: The Mediating Role of Perceived Social Support and Resilience. FrontiersinPsychology, 14, Article 1095566. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1095566
[52]
Cao, J., Li, X., Ye, Z., Xie, M. and Lin, D. (2020) Parental Psychological and Behavioral Control and Positive Youth Development among Young Chinese Adolescents: The Mediating Role of Basic Psychological Needs Satisfaction. CurrentPsychology, 41, 4645-4656. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-020-00980-1
[53]
Bartlett, M.Y. and DeSteno, D. (2006) Gratitude and Prosocial Behavior: Helping When It Costs You. PsychologicalScience, 17, 319-325. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-9280.2006.01705.x
