Lee Inyeong, Park Hyekyung
Department of Psychology, Sogang University, Seoul, South Korea.
Department of Psychology, Sungshin Women's University, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
PLoS One. 2025 Jan 24;20(1):e0316316. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0316316. eCollection 2025.
This study explored the relationship between the ingroup range of individuals and their willingness to assist various social groups during the COVID-19 pandemic and whether or not age moderates this relationship. A total of 291 South Koreans (Mage = 31.91 years, SD = 11.99) participated in an online survey and provided data on ingroup range, intention to provide help, and age. The results demonstrated that individuals with a broader ingroup range displayed a stronger willingness to distribute quarantine supplies for COVID-19 across diverse social groups (β = .12, p < .05). This finding aligned with the ingroup bias phenomenon, in which individuals tend to favor one's group. Importantly, age moderated the association between ingroup range and willingness to help (B = -.19, p < .05). Specifically, the intention of younger individuals (θX → Y|(M = -11.985) = 4.40, CI = 1.79-7.01) and middle-aged individuals (θX → Y|(M = .000) = 2.14, CI = .31-3.98) to assist diverse social groups significantly varied according to their ingroup range, whereas no such relationship existed among older individuals (θX → Y|(M = 11.985) = -.11, CI = -2.64-2.42). We provided an in-depth discussion into the potential reasons that underlie the stronger willingness of older individuals to extend aid beyond their ingroup range during the pandemic compared with those of younger individuals. We then suggested strategies for encouraging acts of prosociality during crises, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, which particularly emphasize the pattern observed in younger participants with a narrow ingroup range.
本研究探讨了个体的内群体范围与他们在新冠疫情期间帮助不同社会群体的意愿之间的关系，以及年龄是否会调节这种关系。共有291名韩国人（年龄均值=31.91岁，标准差=11.99）参与了一项在线调查，并提供了有关内群体范围、提供帮助的意愿和年龄的数据。结果表明，内群体范围更广的个体表现出更强的意愿，愿意为新冠疫情向不同社会群体分发隔离物资（β=.12，p<.05）。这一发现与内群体偏见现象相符，即个体倾向于偏袒自己的群体。重要的是，年龄调节了内群体范围与帮助意愿之间的关联（B=-.19，p<.05）。具体而言，年轻个体（θX→Y|(M=-11.985)=4.40，置信区间=1.79-7.01）和中年个体（θX→Y|(M=.000)=2.14，置信区间=.31-3.98）帮助不同社会群体的意愿根据其内群体范围有显著差异，而老年个体中不存在这种关系（θX→Y|(M=11.985)=-.11，置信区间=-2.64-2.42）。我们深入讨论了与年轻个体相比，老年个体在疫情期间更愿意向其内群体范围之外提供援助的潜在原因。然后，我们提出了在危机期间鼓励亲社会行为的策略，比如在新冠疫情期间，特别强调在具有狭窄内群体范围的年轻参与者中观察到的模式。
