1. Emerging adults’ cultural values, prosocial behaviors, and mental health in 14 countries during the COVID-19 pandemic
- Author
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Padilla-Walker, Laura M., Van der graaff, Jolien, Workman, Katey, Carlo, Gustavo, Branje, Susan, Carrizales, Alexia, Gerbino, Maria, Gülseven, Zehra, Hawk, Skyler T., Luengo kanacri, Paula, Mesurado, Belén, Samper-García, Paula, Shen, Yuh-ling, Taylor, Laura K., Trach, Jessica, Van zalk, Maarten H. W., Žukauskienė, Rita, Leerstoel Branje, Adolescent development: Characteristics and determinants, Leerstoel Meeus, Leerstoel Branje, Adolescent development: Characteristics and determinants, and Leerstoel Meeus
- Subjects
anxiety ,cultural values ,depression ,mental health ,Prosocial behavior ,Social Psychology ,Developmental & Child Psychology ,Basic Behavioral and Social Science ,Education ,Good Health and Well Being ,Developmental Neuroscience ,Clinical Research ,Behavioral and Social Science ,Taverne ,Developmental and Educational Psychology ,Psychology ,Cognitive Sciences ,Life-span and Life-course Studies ,Social Sciences (miscellaneous) - Abstract
Evidence suggests an impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health, particularly among emerging adults. However, theories on altruism born of suffering or adversarial growth suggest that we might also see prosocial behavior as a function of the pandemic, which may protect against mental health challenges. Because cultural values are central in determining prosocial behavior, the current study explored how cultural values were differentially associated with adaptive prosocial behaviors that might protect against mental health challenges. Participants for the current study included 5,682 young people aged 18–25 years from 14 different countries around the world (68% female, 62% college students). Path analyses suggested that there were few differences in patterns as a function of culture, but revealed that horizontal individualism and horizontal and vertical collectivism were indirectly associated with lower levels of depression via prosocial behavior toward family members. Discussion focuses on the importance of coping by strengthening family relationships via prosocial behavior during the pandemic.
- Published
- 2022