TY - JOUR
T1 - Predictors of prosocial behavior among Chinese high school students in Hong Kong
AU - Siu, Andrew M.H.
AU - Shek, Daniel T.L.
AU - Lai, Frank H.Y.
PY - 2012/7/31
Y1 - 2012/7/31
N2 - This study examined the correlates and predictors of prosocial behavior among Chinese adolescents in Hong Kong. A sample of 518 high school students responded to a questionnaire containing measures of antisocial and prosocial behavior, prosocial norms, pragmatic values, moral reasoning, and empathy. Preliminary analyses showed that there were gender differences in some of the measures. While correlation analyses showed that parental education, prosocial norms, pragmatic values, moral reasoning, and empathy were related to prosocial behavior, regression analyses showed that prosocial norms, pragmatic values, and empathy dimensions (personal distress and empathy) were key predictors of it. The findings are largely consistent with theoretical predictions and previous research findings, other than the negative relationship between personal distress and prosocial behavior. The study also underscores the importance of values and norms in predicting prosocial behavior, which has been largely neglected in previous studies.
AB - This study examined the correlates and predictors of prosocial behavior among Chinese adolescents in Hong Kong. A sample of 518 high school students responded to a questionnaire containing measures of antisocial and prosocial behavior, prosocial norms, pragmatic values, moral reasoning, and empathy. Preliminary analyses showed that there were gender differences in some of the measures. While correlation analyses showed that parental education, prosocial norms, pragmatic values, moral reasoning, and empathy were related to prosocial behavior, regression analyses showed that prosocial norms, pragmatic values, and empathy dimensions (personal distress and empathy) were key predictors of it. The findings are largely consistent with theoretical predictions and previous research findings, other than the negative relationship between personal distress and prosocial behavior. The study also underscores the importance of values and norms in predicting prosocial behavior, which has been largely neglected in previous studies.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84865043138&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1100/2012/489156
DO - 10.1100/2012/489156
M3 - Article
C2 - 22919326
AN - SCOPUS:84865043138
SN - 2356-6140
VL - 2012
SP - 1
EP - 7
JO - The Scientific World Journal
JF - The Scientific World Journal
M1 - 489156
ER -