University of Missouri, USA.
University of Minnesota, USA.
J Adolesc. 2020 Apr;80:98-114. doi: 10.1016/j.adolescence.2020.01.012. Epub 2020 Feb 19.
The purpose of this study was to conduct a meta-analysis investigating the consistency and strength of relations between prosocial behavior, externalizing behaviors, and internalizing symptoms from preadolescence (i.e., 1-9 years) to late adolescence (i.e., 19-25 years). This study directly addresses inconsistencies and gaps in the available literature by providing the field with a detailed, synthesized description of these associations.
Fifty-five studies met the inclusion criteria, containing 742 independent correlational effect sizes. Statistical information and other study information was coded and entered into Comprehensive Meta-analysis III software, which was used to analyze results.
Results showed that higher levels of prosocial behavior were significantly associated with lower levels of externalizing behaviors, as expected. Additionally, more reported prosocial behavior was related to less reported internalizing symptoms. Follow-up analyses revealed specific relationships between prosocial behavior and aggression, deviant peer association, risky sexual behavior, substance use, delinquency/general externalizing behavior, depression, and general internalizing behaviors (i.e., emotional problems, negative emotionality). A variety of moderators of these associations were considered, including age and sex.
Findings are discussed in the context of the broader research literature, weaknesses in the field are noted, and numerous meaningful directions for future research are presented.
本研究旨在进行元分析，调查亲少年期（即 1-9 岁）至青少年晚期（即 19-25 岁）期间亲社会行为、外化行为和内化症状之间关系的一致性和强度。通过为该领域提供这些关联的详细综合描述，本研究直接解决了现有文献中的不一致和差距问题。
符合纳入标准的 55 项研究包含 742 个独立相关效应量。统计信息和其他研究信息被编码并输入 Comprehensive Meta-analysis III 软件中，用于分析结果。
结果表明，亲社会行为水平较高与外化行为水平较低呈显著相关，这是预期的结果。此外，报告的亲社会行为越多，报告的内化症状越少。进一步的分析揭示了亲社会行为与攻击行为、与不良同伴的关联、危险的性行为、物质使用、 delinquency/general externalizing behavior（即情绪问题、负面情绪）之间的特定关系。考虑了这些关联的多种调节因素，包括年龄和性别。
在更广泛的研究文献背景下讨论了这些发现，指出了该领域的弱点，并提出了许多有意义的未来研究方向。
