Online Prosocial Behavior Research Articles

The relationship between college students' belief in a just world and online prosocial behavior.

Previous studies have highlighted the critical role that the belief in a just world (BJW) plays in maintaining and promoting prosocial behaviors within individuals. Considered a stable personality trait, the crux of BJW lies in the conviction that individuals receive what they deserve, and deserve what they receive. Simultaneously, the relationship between BJW and prosocial behavior is impacted by an individual's sense of fairness or unfairness. However, past research has primarily focused on real-life prosocial behavior, with limited exploration into the relationship between BJW and online prosocial behavior. This study, comprising a survey and an experiment, aimed to delve deeper into this relationship. The survey section randomly selected 4212 college students to examine how BJW correlates with online prosocial behavior. Findings predominantly revealed a significant positive correlation between online prosocial behavior and BJW. Additionally, the study explored how gender and place of origin influence these behaviors. Results showed that male students and those from urban areas exhibited significantly higher online prosocial behavior. The experimental research investigated the performance differences in online prosocial behaviors among college students under different fairness scenarios, revealing that the online prosocial behavior in an unfair situation was significantly higher than in fair or neutral situations. Furthermore, in unfair situations, a significant correlation was observed between BJW and online prosocial behavior. The findings from this study significantly advance our understanding of the dynamics between BJW and online prosocial behavior among college students, emphasizing that perceived injustices can markedly enhance prosocial behaviors in virtual settings. This study underscores the profound impact of fairness perceptions and highlights the modulating effects of gender and geographical background on online interactions.

Online prosocial behavior during adolescence in Belgium, Japan, Peru, and Spain: Cross-national and gender invariance and differences in four countries

ABSTRACT The role of the digital context in the development and expression of prosocial behaviors during adolescence has not yet been addressed using validated instruments in different languages. This study examines the factorial validity of the Online Prosocial Behavior Scale (OPBS) in adolescents from four different countries (Belgium N = 1714, Japan N = 1207, Peru N = 1478, Spain N = 1299) and assesses the factorial and gender invariance and differences in them. A multigroup confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) sequence was performed to test the factorial and gender invariance. The results indicate that the two-factor structure of the OPBS fits well across the full sample in each country and in the gender groups. Cross-national and gender measurement invariance was established for this instrument. Peruvian adolescents showed the highest frequency of online prosocial behaviors, both performed and received, while Japanese adolescents showed the lowest frequency. In all the countries studied, girls showed a higher frequency of online prosocial behaviors than boys. The limitations of this instrument and future lines of research in this field are discussed.

Development and Validation of Online Social Achievement Goals Questionnaire for College Students

An accurate assessment of online social achievement goals requires a new measure, tailored to the unique nature of online social contexts. Using the data collected from 366 U.S. college students, the online Social Achievement Goals Questionnaire (oSAGQ) was developed and validated. The oSAGQ includes three types of social achievement goals: Online social development, online social demonstration-approach, and online social demonstration-avoidance goals. Strong construct validity evidence was obtained through exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses. The oSAGQ showed strong psychometric properties, including high reliability and strong item discrimination index. Confirmatory factor analysis showed that online social achievement goals were empirically distinguishable from in-person goal constructs. Hierarchical regression analysis indicated that online social achievement goals had explained unique variance in online prosocial and antisocial behaviors after controlling for in-person social achievement goals. Both online and in-person social development goals were positively related to online prosocial behavior. However, the effect of in-person social demonstration-approach goals on online antisocial behavior disappeared once online counterpart was entered in the model, suggesting the superior predictive power of online social demonstration-approach goals for online antisocial behavior. Future research topics using oSAGQ were suggested.

Family communication patterns, self-efficacy, and adolescent online prosocial behavior: a moderated mediation model

As technology has been developing by leaps and bounds, concerns regarding adolescent online behavioral patterns have garnered significant attention. Nevertheless, current research exhibits limitations in both perspective and depth. Consequently, this study introduces a moderated mediation model to investigate whether the mediating effect of self-efficacy and the moderating effect of emotional regulation strategies are valid in the relationship between family communication patterns and adolescent online prosocial behavior. A questionnaire survey encompassing 1183 adolescents across 12 schools in three cities of mainland China was conducted. The findings reveal that conversation orientation contributes to the augmentation of adolescents’ self-efficacy and online prosocial behavior, whereas conformity orientation follows a reversed trend. Furthermore, self-efficacy serves as a mediator in the relationship between conversation orientation and conformity orientation, influencing adolescent online prosocial behavior in both positive and negative manners. Additionally, this study underscores the significance of emotion regulation strategies; cognitive reappraisal not only reinforces the positive effects of conversation orientation, but also mitigates the adverse effects of conformity orientation, while expressive suppression demonstrates the inverse effect. This research yields a comprehensive and insightful understanding of adolescent online prosocial behavior, furnishing a valuable theoretical foundation for future research and practice in family education.

SNS citizenship behavior based on D&M information system success model and social capital theory: Mediating role of subjective well-being

Social media has become integral to contemporary society, with online behaviors impacting individual experiences and the wider community. In Bangladesh, a developing country, SNS have played a pivotal role in the nation's digitalization efforts. This study explores the relationship between social capital theory, D&M Information System Model, subjective well-being, and SNS Citizenship Behavior (SCB) among active social media users in Bangladesh. Data was collected from 418 participants through an online survey, and hypotheses were tested using structural equation modeling. The findings indicate that the items of the D&M model positively influenced the aspects of social capital theory, excluding service quality. In contrast, social interaction ties and shared values were positively associated with SCB, although social trust did not exhibit a significant relationship. Additionally, subjective well-being mediated the connection between social capital and SCB. This research offers valuable insights into the factors influencing online prosocial behavior and provides practical implications for cultivating a positive communication culture in the digital era. The model proposed in this study holds significant implications for Bangladesh's policymakers and social networking site authorities, guiding their efforts in implementing technology-based initiatives.

Perilaku Membela Konstruktif: Wujud Empati Bystander dalam Tindakan Pembelaan yang Prososial

Bystander's responses can potentially strengthen or weaken the cyberbullying situation. However, the facts show that most bystanders choose to be passive rather than defend the victim. Nonetheless, passive bystander behavior does not necessarily mean approval of the perpetrator's actions. Some bystanders consider cyberbullying to be an unpleasant thing, so it can generate a sense of empathy for the victim. Unfortunately, a lack of self-efficacy and knowledge regarding how to deal with cyberbullying can inhibit bystanders from defending victims. Therefore, knowledge about constructive defending behaviors can help bystanders to defend victims in a good way. This article aims to provide knowledge about constructive defending behavior as an online prosocial behavior. This article explains that prosocial behavior theory is more relevant with constructive defending behavior than aggressive defending behavior. Then, constructive defending behavior can minimize cyberbullying because constructive defending behavior supports bystander emotion regulation, creates social norms related to positive online social interactions, and realizes social capital in the form of social ties. These social ties offer four useful resources, like information on how to deal with cyberbullying, social connectedness of bystanders with other social media users, potential bystander to be influent person who motivates other social media users to take constructive defense actions, and become a reinforcement of identity and a sense of worth to the victim. Hopefully, this article can provide an understanding that constructive defending behavior should be priority to develop by social media users.

A study of the influence of altruism, social responsibility, reciprocity, and the subjective norm on online prosocial behavior in adolescence

While the study of offline prosocial behavior has a long tradition, much less information is available about how these behaviors manifest and change in the digital environment, and little is known about their background. This paper evaluates differences by age and gender in a variety of attitudes and beliefs during adolescence and studies their influence on the online prosocial behavior emitted and received. A cross-sectional study was performed with 1299 participants aged between 14 and 20 from the Region of Madrid (Spain). The Spanish adaptation of the Online Prosocial Behavior Scale and a selection of items from various studies on attitudes and beliefs regarding altruism, direct and indirect reciprocity, social responsibility, and the perception of the subjective norm were administered. The results suggest that female adolescents maintain higher altruism, social responsibility, and indirect reciprocity than males, and that the older age group (18–20 years old) has higher scores in altruism, social responsibility, and direct reciprocity. Together with altruism, the subjective norm, social responsibility, and indirect reciprocity positively influence the online prosocial behavior emitted by adolescents. Indirect reciprocity, the subjective norm and altruism also influence the feeling of receiving online prosocial behaviors from others. Knowing the extent to which adolescents hold prosocial beliefs and which of these beliefs may favor prosocial online behaviors can be beneficial when promoting such beliefs and fostering more positive online conduct, as well as lessening cyberbullying, online hate and any other manifestation of aggressive behavior online.

Effect of Crisis Colocation on Online Prosocial Behavior

Effect of Crisis Colocation on Online Prosocial Behavior

Assessment of the Psychometric Properties of the Perceived Empathic and Social Self-Efficacy Scale in Chinese Adolescents.

There is a burgeoning interest in nurturing adolescents' social and emotional skills, acknowledging the significant influence these abilities have on adolescents' social development and overall well-being. The Perceived Empathic and Social Self-Efficacy Scale (PESSE) emerges as a promising tool designed to capture adolescents' self-perceptions regarding their self-efficacy in empathic and social domains. This study seeks to investigate the psychometric properties of the Chinese Version of the Perceived Empathic and Social Self-Efficacy Scale (PESSE) by examining its factor structure, measurement invariance across gender and age groups, along with its predictive validity concerning adolescent subjective and social well-being. A sample of 512 adolescents (233 boys, 265 girls) aged 10-16 years old (M = 12.69, SD = 1.49) from mainland China participated in this study. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and multi-group CFA were employed to assess the two-factor structure and the measurement invariance of the PESSE across gender and age groups. The results demonstrate that the Chinese PESSE maintains robust psychometric properties as the original version, establishing its reliability (Cronbach's alpha for empathic self-efficacy scale was 0.82, for social self-efficacy scale was 0.85) and validity for assessing adolescents perceived empathic and social self-efficacy. Additionally, findings consistently highlight positive correlations between perceived empathic and social self-efficacy and indicators for adolescents' subjective well-being (self-esteem, positive and negative affect, and symptoms of depression and anxiety) and social well-being (perceived peer support online prosocial behavior, school connectedness, and social relationship). This study supports that the PESSE is a valid and reliable instrument for assessing adolescent perceived empathic and social self-efficacy, underlining the importance of fostering empathic and social self-efficacy skills in adolescence.

Online Moral Disengagement: An Examination of the Relationships Between Electronic Communication, Cognitive Empathy, and Antisocial Behavior on the Internet.

A consequence of the proliferation of online communication is the concerning presence of antisocial behavior observed in virtual spaces. Research suggests the cognitive component of empathy is hindered by features of electronic communication which facilitates antisocial behaviors online. Investigations into how features of online communication inhibit cognitive empathy are lacking, and findings on moral disengagement and antisocial behavior have yet to be integrated with studies on cognitive empathy and electronic communication. The current study explores these relationships. One hundred and three undergraduate students completed several measures including the Online Moral Disengagement Scale, Questionnaire of Cognitive and Affective Empathy, and Online Prosocial and Antisocial Behavior Scale. Results showed a positive correlation between compulsive internet use and online moral disengagement, as well as a negative correlation between cognitive empathy and moral disengagement online. It was hypothesized that online moral disengagement would mediate the relation between cognitive empathy and antisocial behavior online but this mediation was not supported. However, a moderated relationship was revealed between cognitive empathy and moral justification, by liberalism. This moderation can be explored further and built upon by future research to deepen our understanding of how political ideology relates to virtual behavior. Furthermore, the findings concerning components of empathy and moral disengagement, and their role within the perpetration of antisocial conduct online, can inform future research as well as interventions focused on fostering prosocial behavior online and curbing cyberaggression.

Lonely, impulsive, and seeking attention: Predictors of narcissistic adolescents’ antisocial and prosocial behaviors on social media

Narcissistic youth use social media to engage in a variety of self-promotional behaviors, which have either antisocial or prosocial characteristics. Differing views exist to explain the processes underlying narcissistic self-promotion, either characterizing these actions as intentional, or as impulsive. This study compared intentional attention-seeking and impulsivity as potential mediators of relations between narcissism and both aggressive (i.e., cyberbullying) and prosocial online behavior, and examined whether youth’s loneliness might strengthen these associations. Among Chinese early adolescents (N = 213, Mage = 13.26), narcissism positively predicted youth-reported cyberbullying offending and online prosocial behavior. Loneliness moderated the link between narcissism and attention-seeking, but not impulsivity. Among adolescents higher in loneliness, narcissism indirectly predicted cyberbullying and online prosocial behaviors via attention-seeking. These results highlight narcissism, loneliness, and their interplay as potential predictors of youth’s social media behaviors. Links with attention-seeking, in particular, suggest that educators and practitioners might target youth’s conscious expectations for social rewards when counseling narcissistic adolescents about self-promotional social media use.

Identity development and online and offline prosocial behaviors among early and middle adolescents.

Research has demonstrated that adolescents of the digital age engage in developmental tasks by interacting with others in both online and offline environments. However, no studies have investigated how adolescents develop their identity, a crucial developmental task, by engaging in online and offline prosocial behaviors. To address this research gap, we examined the role of online and offline prosocial behavior in identity development during adolescence using variable- and person-centered approaches. The participants were 608 individuals in early adolescence (50.2% girls; age range = 12-13 years, Mage = 12.75 years, SD = 0.43) and 594 individuals in middle adolescence (50.3% girls; age range = 15-16 years, Mage = 15.79 years, SD = 0.41) in Japan. They completed questionnaires to measure identity development, online and offline prosocial behavior, and demographic characteristics. The results from the variable-centered approach (i.e., identity dimensions) revealed that both online and offline prosocial behaviors were positively related to commitments and proactive explorations in early and middle adolescence. The findings from the person-centered approach (i.e., identity statuses) demonstrated that early and middle adolescents with higher levels of online prosocial behavior were more likely to show searching moratorium than all other identity statuses, whereas those with higher levels of offline prosocial behavior were more likely to show achievement than troubled diffusion, carefree diffusion, and undifferentiated. Consistent with both variable- and person-centered approaches, these findings highlight that online prosocial behavior can be a new resource for identity development in adolescence. Moreover, the results suggest that online prosocial behaviors lead to identity status in the process of maturing identity and that offline prosocial behavior is necessary to become more mature identity status. Regarding practical implications, educating adolescents on digital media literacy, including supportive behavior in online environments, is crucial to gradually exploring their identity. In addition, for adolescents to develop more mature identity, adults should create in-person environments in which they participate in offline prosocial behavior. The limitations of our findings with respect to the online and offline prosocial behavior scale items are discussed.

Self‐compassion and subjective well‐being: A moderated mediation model of online prosocial behavior and gratitude

AbstractPrevious studies have shown that personal factors serve as mediators in the link between self‐compassion and subjective well‐being (SWB). However, these studies have neglected the possibility that online prosocial behavior (OPB) may serve as a mediator in the link between self‐compassion and SWB. Based on the PERMA theory of well‐being and the protective‐protective model, the current study examined whether OPB would mediate the association between self‐compassion and individual SWB, and whether gratitude would moderate the association between self‐compassion and OPB. A valid sample of 1488 college students (Mage = 19.84; SD = 1.61) filled out questionnaires regarding demographics, self‐compassion, OPB, gratitude, and SWB. Results showed that, after controlling for gender, age, daily online time, and social desirability, OPB mediated the association between self‐compassion and individual SWB, and gratitude strengthened the positive association between self‐compassion and OPB. These findings reveal that high self‐compassionate and grateful people can enhance their subjective well‐being through behaving prosocially online.

The Cross-Spillover Effects of Online Prosocial Behavior on Subjective Well-Being: Daily Diary Evidence from Chinese Adolescents

This study investigated the effects of online prosocial behavior on the subjective well-being of adolescents and its spillover and crossover effects. By convenience sampling, this paper adopted a diary survey method to collect the daily online prosocial behavior and subjective well-being data of 120 first-grade junior high school students and their parents for 5 consecutive days during their winter vacation in China. The online prosocial behaviors of adolescents during the day can significantly positively predict their subjective well-being during the day and at night, which indicates that adolescents’ subjective well-being has a spillover effect from online to offline. In addition, online prosocial behavior and the subjective well-being of adolescents in the daytime are significantly positively correlated with their parents’ subjective well-being at night, indicating that there is a crossover effect between online prosocial behavior and the subjective well-being of adolescents in the daytime and their parents’ subjective well-being at night. It is important to create a good online environment for adolescents and promote the benign spillover and crossover effect of online prosocial behavior on subjective well-being.

Online cross-religion donation during COVID-19: mediating role of empathy and trust

Purpose Most donation-related studies have extensively examined in-group donation behavior, but it is difficult to find similar studies that consider donations to out-group members. This study aims to understand online cross-religion donation during COVID-19 in Indonesia. Design/methodology/approach The online questionnaire is distributed using the purposive and snowball sampling technique. From July to August 2021, 753 respondents are obtained, comprising Muslims, Catholics, Christians, Hindus, Buddhists and Confucian. Findings This study found that online cross-religion dona tion is strongly influenced by the social presence, trust in fundraiser and empathy. Interestingly, this study also reveals a partial mediation effect of trust in fundraiser and empathy in the relationship between social presence and online cross-religion donation. Future studies are encouraged to investigate and explore how care for others may affect online prosocial behavior. Originality/value This study provides two theoretical contributions. First, this study empirically evinced that charitable donation is blind to religious belief. Second, it promotes the mediating role of empathy and trust in fundraisers to improve online cross-religion donation.

From Isolation to Connection: Empathy, Prosocial Behavior, and Posttraumatic Growth After Pregnancy Loss

The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between prosocial behaviors, empathy, and positive psychological change in women who have experienced pregnancy loss. Women who had experienced miscarriage or stillbirth ( n = 291) were recruited via social media and completed an online survey that assessed their engagement in in-person or online prosocial behavior, empathy, and posttraumatic growth (PTG). Loss context factors and demographics were also collected. The results indicated that women who engage in in-person prosocial behavior, such as volunteering, report higher levels of PTG compared to those who do not volunteer at all or only volunteer online. A weak positive relationship was found between PTG and empathy. Findings suggest that encouraging clients to engage in in-person volunteering may foster their experience of growth. Future research is needed to further explore the timing of the volunteering in relation to PTG as well as empathy and PTG.

Examining how and when Facebook intensive use shapes users’ online pro-social behaviors

Despite growing research on the favorable outcomes of Facebook intensive use, there is little evidence about the role of Facebook intensive use in shaping users’ online pro-social behaviors. Building on the Uses and Gratification Theory, we propose a positive relationship between Facebook intensive use and users’ online pro-social behaviors. We also propose self-transcendence as a relevant mediator and online relationship commitment as an important boundary condition. Results based on time-lagged data from 467 (three waves, two months apart) students at a large public sector university and analyzed using structural equation modeling in Mplus (8.5) reveal a positive relationship between Facebook intensive use and online pro-social behaviors, both directly and indirectly, via self-transcendence. Moreover, online relationship commitment moderates the direct link between Facebook intensive use and self-transcendence and the indirect relationship between Facebook intensive use and online pro-social behavior. Practical implications can help promote the meaningful use of Facebook.

Dispositional Awe and Online Altruism: Testing a Moderated Mediating Model.

Dispositional awe has a positive effect on prosociality. However, it has not been tested whether this disposition appears in online altruism. Using a large sample of 3,080 Chinese undergraduates, this study tested a moderated mediating model that takes self-transcendent meaning in life (STML) as a mediator and subjective socioeconomic status (SSES) as a moderator. As predicted, dispositional awe was positively correlated with online altruism, partly via the indirect effect of STML. SSES moderated both the direct and indirect effects. Specifically, the predictive effects of dispositional awe on both online prosocial behavior and STML were greater for lower rather than higher SSES. This study extends the prosociality of dispositional awe to cyberspace. Other implications are also discussed herein.

Mindfulness Promotes Online Prosocial Behavior via Cognitive Empathy.

Mindfulness plays an important role in promoting prosocial behavior and well-being. With the spread of Internet usage, people’s online prosocial behavior (OPB) has garnered great attention. Based on the link between online and offline behaviors, we predict that mindfulness can also facilitate OPB. We examined the association of mindfulness and OPB and the mediating effect of empathy. A total of 674 Chinese undergraduate students completed self-report measures of these constructs. The results showed that different dimensions of mindfulness predicted empathy, which in turn predicted OPB. Perspective taking was the main mediator in the mindfulness-OPB link. Mindfulness improves receptiveness to others’ needs and feelings, thereby enhancing the willingness to help them, even in none-face-to-face situations.

Bridging Personality and Online Prosocial Behavior: The Roles of Empathy, Moral Identity, and Social Self-Efficacy.

Personality has been considered as important influential factors of prosocial behavior (PB). This study aims to investigate whether the personality-PB association revealed in the real world is applicable to cyberspace. Researchers further considered moral identity (MI), empathy, and social self-efficacy as mediators accounting for the association of personality and online prosocial behavior (OPB). Self-reported measures were administrated to 1398 participants from eastern China. Results showed (1) extraversion, agreeableness, conscientiousness, and openness were positively related to OPB, while neuroticism was negatively related to OPB; (2) perspective taking could serve as a mediator between all big five traits and OPB, social self-efficacy did the same job unless the predictor was agreeableness. Empathic concern and MI were less important mediators partly because OPB involves no face-to-face interaction. These findings show that personality has a significant effect on OPB through its influence on moral development.