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Four studies investigated the impact of a recipient's perception of a helper's motivation (autonomous vs. controlled) on the recipient's subsequent prosocial intentions, alongside testing a mediational mechanism. Study 1 employed a questionnaire method to assess the relationships between participants' lay theories of helper's prosocial motivations (i.e., the degree of autonomy), their dispositional gratitude and their prosocial tendencies. Studies 2–4 manipulated a helper's autonomous versus controlled motivation within hypothetical scenarios (Studies 2 and 3) and within recalled events (Study 4), testing the effect of the helper's motivation on the recipient's prosocial intentions towards the helper (Studies 2–4), a bystander (Study 3) and others in general (Study 4) as well as the mediating role of gratitude. The findings consistently demonstrated that perceiving helpers as having autonomous motivation led to heightened intentions among recipients to engage in prosocial behaviour, which was mediated by increased feelings of gratitude. These effects remained robust after controlling for relevant factors including participants' demographic information, social desirability bias and perceptions of egoism within helpers. Our findings highlight the role of perceived helper's autonomous motivation on recipient's prosocial behaviours, which enhances the knowledge regarding reciprocity and pay‐it‐forward behaviour. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite the large number of working-class students having to work while attending schools, their work experience and the potential of class solidarity have been largely unaddressed. By bringing in a social psychological perspective, this article revives the sociological debates of working-class solidarity and challenges the defeatist view of solidarity since the neoliberal turn of the global economy. This article comprises two studies. In Study 1, a working-class solidarity measure (WCSM) was developed through interviews, followed by factor-analysis of a vocational school sample in China (n = 509). In Study 2, we validated the factor structure of the WCSM and adopted structural equation modelling to show that prosocial behaviour positively predicted solidarity among vocational school students (n = 2534). Contrary to the understanding that the working-class is divisive and fragmentary, our work shows that working-class solidarity can be built and consolidated through layers of prosocial behaviours by students with work experience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prosocial behaviour is a bedrock of humane societies. Although previous studies have shown that parental style is an important contributing factor for children's prosocial behaviour, the psychological mechanism underlying this association in specific cultural background remains unclear. Based on the ecological systems theory, this study sought to explore the influence of parental warmth on children's prosocial behaviour, and the mediating effect of self-efficacy, as well as the moderating role of teachers' incentive evaluation in the link between self-efficacy and children's prosocial behaviour. This cross-sectional, survey-based study collected data from parents and teachers of 414 Chinese preschoolers (5-6 years old). Parents of these children finished questionnaires on the Chinese version of the short-form Egna minnen av. Barndoms uppfostran (s-EMBU-C), Child Behaviour Scale (CBS), and the revised General Self-efficacy Scale (GSES), while Incentive evaluation questionnaire was finished by their teachers. Results indicated that children who experience high parental warmth were more likely to act prosocially (b = 0.61, p < 0.001) and the association between parental warmth and prosocial behaviour was partially mediated by self-efficacy (indirect effect = 0.25, 95 % CI = [0.19, 0.32]). Besides, teachers' incentive evaluation moderated the link between self-efficacy and children's prosocial behaviour (b = 0.24, p < 0.001). Specifically, the effect of self-efficacy on prosocial behaviour was stronger for high teachers' incentive evaluation children than those with low teachers' incentive evaluation. These findings extend the existing understanding of the mechanism concerning the influence of parental warmth on prosocial behaviour in Chinese settings. The results revealed that interventions that could improve children's self-efficacy would be effective in accelerating their prosocial behaviour and schools played a crucial role in working with families to increase their self-efficacy at a young age. It should be noted that this study focused only on Chinese children of 5-6 years old, and the cross-sectional design means that the possibility of bidirectional effects could not be ruled out., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no competing financial interests., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

This research investigates the mechanism (Face‐saving consciousness versus status/success‐gaining intention) underlying the effect of financial deprivation on prosocial behaviour among participants in China. A total of three studies were conducted. Findings across the three studies reveal that individuals who were financially deprived (versus privileged) acted in a more prosocial manner. Findings in Studies 1–2 indicate that Face‐saving consciousness, but not status/success‐gaining intention, suitably accounted for the impact of financial deprivation on prosocial behaviour. Furthermore, such an increase in prosocial behaviour was found in a public context, but diminished in a private context, in Study 3. These findings demonstrate the importance of Face‐saving consciousness in the effect of financial deprivation among Chinese. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous studies have reported contradictory relationships between social class and prosocial behaviour. Some studies have found that higher class individuals are more likely to exhibit prosocial behaviour than lower class individuals; whereas in others the opposite was observed. In view of this difference, this study proposed and tested the moderating role of perception of class mobility. Studies 1 and 2, using different operational definitions, revealed that the interaction effect between social class and perceived class mobility on prosocial behaviour was significant. Under the condition of lower perception of class mobility, lower class individuals showed less prosocial behaviour than higher class individuals. When perception of class mobility was higher, however, the prosocial behaviour of lower class individuals increased, showing no significant difference between lower and higher class individuals. Study 3 further explored why perception of class mobility might influence lower class individuals' prosocial behaviour and supported a mediating role of system‐justifying belief. To some extent, these results provide a new perspective to understand the relationship between social class and prosocial behaviour. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused disruption not only in the global health and economic sectors, but also in the field of journalism. As media has played and continues to play a pivotal role in disseminating information during the pandemic crisis, it is critical to examine how media influences the behaviour of their target audience. Subsequently, this study aimed to examine the relationship between media attention, dependency, self-efficacy, and prosocial behaviours amid the COVID-19 pandemic. A total of 905 participants from China responded to the survey questionnaire, the data from which was analysed via SPSS-AMOS v.23. The results indicated a significant correlation between media attention and self-efficacy. Likewise, media dependency is correlated with self-efficacy. Media attention, dependency, and self-efficacy demonstrated significant effects on prosocial attitudes and behaviours. Subsequently, this study showed that self-efficacy mediates the effects of media attention and dependency on prosocial behaviour. At the time of the COVID-19 pandemic, the findings of this study could serve as a guide to media practitioners in shaping the behaviour of their audience through meaningful and responsible information dissemination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background According to the 2017 China National Education Development Statistics Bulletin, there were 14.07 million rural–urban migrant children in the compulsory education stage. The mental health of migrant children in China has drawn increasing attention in research. The objective of this study was to compare subjective well-being, self-esteem, prosocial behaviour and family functioning of migrant children vs local children in Shanghai and to explore their relationship. Methods A survey was conducted among 2229 students (9–17 y of age; male 52.0%, female 48.0%) and their parents from grades 4 to 8 in four primary schools and four middle schools in Shanghai in 2016. The sample consisted of 1333 migrant children and 896 urban children in three migrant schools and five public schools. A total of 959 rural–urban migrant children and 374 urban hukou migrant children were recruited. The questionnaire for students included the Personal Well-Being Index – School Children (PWI-SC), Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS), Positive and Negative Affect Scale for Children, Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, Family APGAR Index and prosocial behaviour domain of the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire. In the questionnaire for parents, the Personal Well-Being Index and Social Support Rating Scale were used in addition to the sociodemographic characteristics. These data were analysed using one-way analysis of variance, correlation analysis and multiple linear regression. Results Rural–urban migrant children reported significantly lower PWI-SC, SWLS, positive affect, prosocial behaviour, self-esteem and Family APGAR Index scores and reported higher negative affect scores than local children (p<0.01). The prevalence rate of abnormal prosocial behaviour among rural–urban migrant children was 10%, which was higher than that of local children (5.9%; p<0.001). Compared with rural–urban migrant children in public schools, the SWLS, prosocial behaviour and Family APGAR Index scores of the children in migrant schools were higher and the prevalence rate of abnormal prosocial behaviour was lower (p<0.01). Multiple linear regression analysis indicated that the self-esteem and Family APGAR Index had predictive effects on subjective well-being and prosocial behaviour scores of rural–urban migrant children. Conclusions Rural–urban migrant children are susceptible to mental health problems. Additional public policy and interventions by practitioners are needed to support rural–urban migrant children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Several studies have indicated that positive childhood experiences (PCEs) might have important protective effects on adulthood mental health. However, the instruments to assess PCEs are scarce., Objective: In this study, we assessed the validity and reliability of the Benevolent Childhood Experiences (BCEs) scale, a new instrument of PCEs, in a large sample of Chinese adults. Furthermore, we examined associations of PCEs with symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression, as well as, prosocial behaviours across different levels of trauma., Method: Participants were 6929 adults (33% male; mean age 38.04 years, SD = 7.81, ranging from 18 to 81.) recruited from Jiangxi and Hunan provinces in China. Self-administrated questionnaires were used to measure PCEs, childhood trauma, lifetime trauma, PTSD, depression, and prosocial behaviours. Multiple linear regression models were conducted to examine the interdependent and interactive effects of PCEs, lifetime trauma, childhood trauma on symptoms of PTSD and depression and prosocial behaviours., Results: In the current sample, the Cronbach's α of the BCEs scale was 0.70. PCEs were not related to lifetime trauma, while modestly associated with childhood trauma, demonstrating excellent discriminant validity. PCEs were negatively correlated with severity of PTSD and depression, while positively correlated with prosocial behaviours, indicating good predictive validity. PCEs, lifetime trauma and childhood trauma were independently associated with severity of PTSD and depression and prosocial behaviours. Moreover, the interaction of PCEs and lifetime trauma negatively predicted severity of PTSD and depression, while the interaction of PCEs and childhood trauma negatively predicted prosocial behaviours. PCEs had a protective effect on PTSD and depression in high level of lifetime trauma, and showed a reduced positive effect on prosocial behaviours in high level of childhood trauma., Conclusions: The Chinese BCEs scale is a reliable and valid instrument. PCEs can buffer adversity and foster positive outcomes in adulthood., Competing Interests: No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s)., (© 2021 The Author(s). Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.)