Parenting and Chinese Adolescents’ Multidimensional Prosocial Behaviors: The Moderating Role of Sympathy

Abstract

In this study, the prediction of maternal and paternal parenting behaviors to 1527 (59.27% female, age ranged between 11 and 18 years old) Chinese adolescents’ multidimensional prosocial behaviors, and the moderating role of adolescents’ sympathy were examined. Data were collected in 2019. Adolescents reported their perceived parenting practices, their own sympathy and prosocial tendencies using online questionnaires. Results from path models in Mplus indicated care and autonomy granting of both parents were uniquely and positively associated with adolescents’ various prosocial behaviors. Paternal control was also positively associated with adolescents’ public prosocial behaviors. Further, adolescents’ sympathy moderated the association between paternal autonomy granting to adolescents’ altruistic prosocial behaviors, as well as between paternal control and adolescents’ compliant and emotional prosocial behaviors. Our study contributed novel information regarding the roles of maternal and paternal parenting and sympathy in Chinese adolescents’ diverse prosocial behaviors. Replications with longitudinal design are needed.

Keywords:

• Parenting
• developmental issues
• social interaction

Disclosure statement

The authors report there are no competing interests to declare.

Data Availability Statement

Data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.

Additional information

Funding

This study was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China [32100868], the Natural Science Foundation of Jiangsu Province in China [BK20200719], the outstanding teaching team of the ‘‘Qing Lan Project’’ of universities of Jiangsu Province—Students Psychological Development and Education.

Notes on contributors

Jingyi Xu

Jingyi Xu is an independent researcher. Her research focuses on understanding the trajectories of children’s and adolescents’ socio-emotional development in cross-cultural contexts.

Hui Zhang

Hui Zhang is an associate professor of psychology at Nanjing Normal University. Her research focuses on understanding factors that contribute to individuals’ various developmental outcomes including behavior developmental. She is interested in testing the issue in a way that answered why and under what circumstances these influences occurred and provide appropriate suggestions for parents, educators and clinicians.