Pro-social behavior, empathy, interpersonal and trust beliefs on peers during adolescence: study of their relationship with a sample of 181 portuguese adolescents of the 3rd cycle (7º, 8º and 9º year of schooling)

Abstract

The optimization of interpersonal relationships on school context requires an early cooperation’ awareness through mutual aid, particularly through the promotion of pro-social behavior, which protect personal and collective cooperation and well-being. Given that the adolescence period is a relevant phase for personal identity construction and social development, the school’s investment on pro-social behaviors acquires a significant relevance on adolescents’ development and personal well-being. In fact, the constant society mutation demands the recurrent confrontation of new challenges, whose overcoming rests on developmental interpersonal skills’ repertoire that promote psychosocial adjustment and perceived quality of life (Del Prette & Del Prette, 2005). These competencies can be conceptualized as competences for life, since they play a relevant role on adaptation to different contexts, favoring progressive adjustment throughout life (Remedios, 2010). The present study aimed to contribute to the exploration of the association between the interpersonal trust ‘level on others, the empathy‘level and the pro-social behaviors frequency among adolescents.