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Awe and Prosocial Behavior: The Mediating Role of Presence of Meaning in Life and the Moderating Role of Perceived Social Support

Author

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  • Ya-Nan Fu

    (Department of Psychology, Faculty of Education, Guangxi Normal University, Guilin 541004, China
    Guangxi University and College Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Applied Psychology, Guangxi Normal University, Guilin 541004, China)

  • Ruodan Feng

    (Department of Psychology, Faculty of Education, Guangxi Normal University, Guilin 541004, China
    Guangxi University and College Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Applied Psychology, Guangxi Normal University, Guilin 541004, China)

  • Qun Liu

    (Department of Psychology, Faculty of Education, Guangxi Normal University, Guilin 541004, China
    Guangxi University and College Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Applied Psychology, Guangxi Normal University, Guilin 541004, China
    School of Marxism, Neijiang Normal University, Neijiang 641112, China)

  • Yumei He

    (Department of Psychology, Faculty of Education, Guangxi Normal University, Guilin 541004, China
    Guangxi University and College Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Applied Psychology, Guangxi Normal University, Guilin 541004, China)

  • Ofir Turel

    (School of Computing and Information Systems, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3010, Australia)

  • Shuyue Zhang

    (Department of Psychology, Faculty of Education, Guangxi Normal University, Guilin 541004, China
    Guangxi University and College Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Applied Psychology, Guangxi Normal University, Guilin 541004, China)

  • Qinghua He

    (Department of Psychology, Faculty of Education, Guangxi Normal University, Guilin 541004, China
    MOE Key Laboratory of Cognition and Personality, Faculty of Psychology, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China)

Abstract

Although awe has been shown to increase prosocial behavior, there is limited knowledge about the mechanisms underlying this relationship, and about this relationship during unique periods. To bridge these gaps, this study examined the influence of awe on prosocial behaviors, the mediating role of the presence of meaning in life, and the moderating role of perceived social support. Based on longitudinal surveys from 676 Chinese college students we showed that: (1) awe was positively associated with prosocial behavior; (2) the presence of meaning in life mediated this association, and; (3) these associations were moderated by perceived social support. Specifically, the positive relationship between awe and the presence of meaning in life was only significant for college students with low perceived social support; and the positive relationship between the presence of meaning in life and prosocial behavior was stronger for college students with high perceived social support.

Suggested Citation

  • Ya-Nan Fu & Ruodan Feng & Qun Liu & Yumei He & Ofir Turel & Shuyue Zhang & Qinghua He, 2022. "Awe and Prosocial Behavior: The Mediating Role of Presence of Meaning in Life and the Moderating Role of Perceived Social Support," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(11), pages 1-13, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:11:p:6466-:d:824618
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Rebecca L. Utz & Kristin L. Swenson & Michael Caserta & Dale Lund & Brian deVries, 2014. "Feeling Lonely Versus Being Alone: Loneliness and Social Support Among Recently Bereaved Persons," The Journals of Gerontology: Series B, The Gerontological Society of America, vol. 69(1), pages 85-94.
    2. Binder, Martin & Freytag, Andreas, 2013. "Volunteering, subjective well-being and public policy," Journal of Economic Psychology, Elsevier, vol. 34(C), pages 97-119.
    3. Xixiang Sun & Weihuan Su & Xiaodong Guo & Ziyuan Tian, 2021. "The Impact of Awe Induced by COVID-19 Pandemic on Green Consumption Behavior in China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(2), pages 1-14, January.
    4. Suzanne van de Groep & Kiki Zanolie & Kayla H Green & Sophie W Sweijen & Eveline A Crone, 2020. "A daily diary study on adolescents’ mood, empathy, and prosocial behavior during the COVID-19 pandemic," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 15(10), pages 1-20, October.
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    1. Jiali Zhang & Baorui Chang & Jiandong Fang, 2025. "Awe Influences Prosocial Behavior and Subjective Well-Being Through the Quiet Ego," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 26(1), pages 1-22, January.
    2. Liming Jiao & Li Luo, 2022. "Dispositional Awe Positively Predicts Prosocial Tendencies: The Multiple Mediation Effects of Connectedness and Empathy," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(24), pages 1-10, December.

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