Department of Psychology, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA.
Brain Research Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA.
J Youth Adolesc. 2021 Jan;50(1):29-43. doi: 10.1007/s10964-020-01362-3. Epub 2020 Dec 5.
Despite growing public and scientific interest in the positive benefits of prosociality, there has been little research on the causal effects of performing kind acts for others on psychological well-being during adolescence. Developmental changes during adolescence, such as greater perspective taking, can promote prosociality. It was hypothesized that performing kind acts for others would improve adolescent well-being (positive and negative affect, perceived stress) and increase prosocial giving. As part of a randomized controlled trial, 97 adolescents (M= 16.224, SD = 0.816, range 14-17; 53.608% female) were assigned to either perform kind acts for others (Kindness to Others, N = 33), perform kind acts for themselves (Kindness to Self, N = 34), or report on daily activities (Daily Report, N = 30) three times per week for four weeks. Well-being factors were measured weekly and giving was tested post-intervention. Overall, changes over time in well-being did not differ across conditions. However, altruism emerged as a significant moderator such that altruistic adolescents in the Kindness to Others condition showed increased positive affect, decreased negative affect, and decreased stress. Increased positive affect was also linked to greater prosocial giving for Kindness to Others adolescents. These findings identify individual differences that may shape the effects of doing kind acts for others on well-being during adolescence.
尽管公众和科学界对亲社会行为的积极益处越来越感兴趣，但对于在青少年时期为他人做好事对心理幸福感的因果影响的研究却很少。青少年时期的发展变化，如换位思考能力的增强，可以促进亲社会行为。研究假设为他人做好事会改善青少年的幸福感（积极和消极情绪，感知压力），并增加亲社会行为。作为一项随机对照试验的一部分，97 名青少年（M=16.224，SD=0.816，年龄范围为 14-17；53.608%为女性）被分配到每周三次、连续四周为他人做好事（对他人的善意，N=33）、为自己做好事（对自己的善意，N=34）或报告日常活动（每日报告，N=30）三个条件之一。每周测量一次幸福感因素，干预后测试给予情况。总体而言，不同条件下的幸福感随时间的变化没有差异。然而，利他主义表现出显著的调节作用，即对他人的善意条件下的利他主义青少年表现出积极情绪增加、消极情绪减少和压力减轻。对他人的善意也与更多的亲社会行为有关。这些发现确定了可能影响青少年时期为他人做好事对幸福感影响的个体差异。
