{"title":"A parallel-process analysis of the longitudinal associations between adolescents' empathy and prosocial behaviors.","authors":"Alexia Carrizales, Gustavo Carlo, Lyda Lannegrand","doi":"10.1037/dev0001937","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Although there is a theoretical and empirical basis for age-related changes in adolescents' empathy and prosocial behaviors, as well as in bidirectional relationships, research examining their codevelopment is lacking. Specifically, research on the extent to which an adolescent's mean-level growth in empathy is related to parallel mean-level growth in his or her prosocial behavior is needed. This 3-year longitudinal multicohort study of adolescents (<i>N</i><sub>T1</sub> = 1,045, 52.0% girls; <i>M</i><sub>ageT1</sub> = 14.67 years) conducted in France investigated the codevelopmental associations between adolescents' empathy mean-level growth and prosocial behaviors mean-level growth via parallel latent growth curve modeling. The parallel latent growth curve model indicated general mean-level increases in empathy and prosocial behaviors over time. The findings support the codevelopment of empathy and prosocial behaviors, with mean-level growth in empathy related to parallel mean-level growth of prosocial behaviors in early and middle adolescence. Importantly, both trajectories exhibited significant interindividual variability. Additionally, the initial levels of empathy were positively related to the initial levels of prosocial behaviors and vice versa. Interestingly, our results suggest that higher baseline levels of empathy are related to steeper decreases in the slope of prosocial behaviors over time and that higher baseline levels of prosocial behaviors are related to steeper decreases in the slope of empathy over time. Age- and gender-related findings were also observed. We discuss the codevelopment and developmental relationships between empathy and prosocial behaviors, the differences across age groups, and their practical implications. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved).</p>","PeriodicalId":48464,"journal":{"name":"Developmental Psychology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.1000,"publicationDate":"2025-02-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Developmental Psychology","FirstCategoryId":"102","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1037/dev0001937","RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q2","JCRName":"PSYCHOLOGY, DEVELOPMENTAL","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Although there is a theoretical and empirical basis for age-related changes in adolescents' empathy and prosocial behaviors, as well as in bidirectional relationships, research examining their codevelopment is lacking. Specifically, research on the extent to which an adolescent's mean-level growth in empathy is related to parallel mean-level growth in his or her prosocial behavior is needed. This 3-year longitudinal multicohort study of adolescents (NT1 = 1,045, 52.0% girls; MageT1 = 14.67 years) conducted in France investigated the codevelopmental associations between adolescents' empathy mean-level growth and prosocial behaviors mean-level growth via parallel latent growth curve modeling. The parallel latent growth curve model indicated general mean-level increases in empathy and prosocial behaviors over time. The findings support the codevelopment of empathy and prosocial behaviors, with mean-level growth in empathy related to parallel mean-level growth of prosocial behaviors in early and middle adolescence. Importantly, both trajectories exhibited significant interindividual variability. Additionally, the initial levels of empathy were positively related to the initial levels of prosocial behaviors and vice versa. Interestingly, our results suggest that higher baseline levels of empathy are related to steeper decreases in the slope of prosocial behaviors over time and that higher baseline levels of prosocial behaviors are related to steeper decreases in the slope of empathy over time. Age- and gender-related findings were also observed. We discuss the codevelopment and developmental relationships between empathy and prosocial behaviors, the differences across age groups, and their practical implications. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved).
期刊介绍：
Developmental Psychology ® publishes articles that significantly advance knowledge and theory about development across the life span. The journal focuses on seminal empirical contributions. The journal occasionally publishes exceptionally strong scholarly reviews and theoretical or methodological articles. Studies of any aspect of psychological development are appropriate, as are studies of the biological, social, and cultural factors that affect development. The journal welcomes not only laboratory-based experimental studies but studies employing other rigorous methodologies, such as ethnographies, field research, and secondary analyses of large data sets. We especially seek submissions in new areas of inquiry and submissions that will address contradictory findings or controversies in the field as well as the generalizability of extant findings in new populations. Although most articles in this journal address human development, studies of other species are appropriate if they have important implications for human development. Submissions can consist of single manuscripts, proposed sections, or short reports.
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