The Reciprocal Effects of Prosociality, Peer Support and Psychological Well-Being in Adolescence: A Four-Wave Longitudinal Study

Gaetana Affuso (), Nicola Picone, Grazia De Angelis, Mirella Dragone, Concetta Esposito, Maddalena Pannone, Anna Zannone and Dario Bacchini
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Gaetana Affuso: Department of Psychology, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, 81100 Caserta, Italy
Nicola Picone: Department of Psychology, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, 81100 Caserta, Italy
Grazia De Angelis: Department of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Pegaso University, 80143 Napoli, Italy
Mirella Dragone: Faculty of Law, Giustino Fortunato University, 82100 Benevento, Italy
Concetta Esposito: Department of Humanistic Studies, University of Naples “Federico II”, 80133 Napoli, Italy
Maddalena Pannone: Department of Psychology, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, 81100 Caserta, Italy
Anna Zannone: Department of Humanistic Studies, University of Naples “Federico II”, 80133 Napoli, Italy
Dario Bacchini: Department of Humanistic Studies, University of Naples “Federico II”, 80133 Napoli, Italy

IJERPH, 2024, vol. 21, issue 12, 1-14

Abstract: The aim of this study was to analyze the reciprocal effects between prosociality, peer support and psychological well-being using a four-wave longitudinal study and a within-person analytical approach (random intercept cross-lagged panel model, RI-CLPM). A sample of 587 adolescents (males = 308; M age = 14.23, SD = 0.58) enrolled in the first year of high school (9th grade) were recruited and followed over four years from 2016 (Time 1 [T1]) to 2019 (Time 4 [T4]). Once a year, they filled in a questionnaire measuring prosociality, peer support, and psychological well-being. The results from the RI-CLPM revealed that, at the between-person level, prosociality, peer support and psychological well-being were all positively associated. Conversely, at the within-person level and at all survey points, only psychological well-being positively predicted prosociality one year later. Specifically, we found that adolescents with higher levels of psychological well-being were more likely to show a tendency for prosocial behaviors over time. Promoting interventions aimed at enhancing psychological well-being may make adolescents more likely to engage in positive behaviors, such as prosocial ones, in a variety of contexts, thereby creating favorable social environments.

Keywords: prosociality; peer support; psychological well-being; cross-lagged panel model; random intercept cross-lagged panel model (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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