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Attachment Insecurity and Altruistic Behavior among Chinese Adolescents: Mediating Effect of Different Dimensions of Empathy

Author

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  • Yangu Pan

    (Research Institute of Social Development, Southwestern University of Finance and Economics, Chengdu 611130, China)

  • Shuang Liang

    (Research Institute of Social Development, Southwestern University of Finance and Economics, Chengdu 611130, China)

  • Daniel T. L. Shek

    (Department of Applied Social Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong SAR, China)

Abstract

Although Western studies showed that attachment insecurity was negatively related to adolescent altruistic behavior, few studies have investigated this issue among Chinese adolescents, and little is known about the mechanisms underlying the impact of attachment avoidance and attachment anxiety on adolescent altruistic behaviors. This study investigated the mediating role of different dimensions of empathy (empathic concern, perspective taking, and personal distress) on the association of attachment avoidance and attachment anxiety with altruistic behavior among Chinese adolescents. A total of 1005 7th and 8th grade Chinese students ( M age = 12.86 years, SD = 0.69) from three middle schools in Chengdu, China completed measures of attachment insecurity, interpersonal reactivity index, and altruistic behavior. Results indicated that attachment avoidance, not attachment anxiety, negatively predicted adolescent altruistic behavior among Chinese adolescents. Moreover, higher attachment avoidance predicted less empathic concern and perspective taking, which in turn predicted less altruistic behavior, while higher attachment anxiety predicted more empathic concern and personal distress, which further predicted more and less altruistic behavior, respectively. These findings highlight the importance of promoting adolescent empathic concern and perspective taking and reducing personal distress to strengthen adolescent altruistic behavior.

Suggested Citation

  • Yangu Pan & Shuang Liang & Daniel T. L. Shek, 2022. "Attachment Insecurity and Altruistic Behavior among Chinese Adolescents: Mediating Effect of Different Dimensions of Empathy," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(16), pages 1-15, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:16:p:10371-:d:893251
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Zhu, Xiaoqin & Shek, Daniel TL, 2021. "Parental factors and adolescent well-being: Associations between developmental trajectories," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 127(C).
    2. Zhu, Xiaoqin & Shek, Daniel T.L., 2020. "Impact of a positive youth development program on junior high school students in mainland China: A pioneer study," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 114(C).
    3. Daniel T.L. Shek & Li Lin & Cecilia M.S. Ma & Lu Yu & Janet T.Y. Leung & Florence K.Y. Wu & Hilde Leung & Diya Dou, 2021. "Perceptions of Adolescents, Teachers and Parents of Life Skills Education and Life Skills in High School Students in Hong Kong," Applied Research in Quality of Life, Springer;International Society for Quality-of-Life Studies, vol. 16(5), pages 1847-1860, October.
    4. Yangu Pan & Di Zhou & Daniel T. L. Shek, 2022. "After-School Extracurricular Activities Participation and Depressive Symptoms in Chinese Early Adolescents: Moderating Effect of Gender and Family Economic Status," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(7), pages 1-19, April.
    5. Pan, Yangu & Hu, Yu & Zhang, Dajun & Ran, Guangming & Li, Bingbing & Liu, Chuanxing & Liu, Guangzeng & Luo, Shilan & Chen, Wanfen, 2017. "Parental and peer attachment and adolescents' behaviors: The mediating role of psychological suzhi in a longitudinal study," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 83(C), pages 218-225.
    6. Hechao Jiang & Daniel T. L. Shek & Moon Y. M. Law, 2021. "Differences between Chinese Adolescent Immigrants and Adolescent Non-Immigrants in Hong Kong: Perceived Psychosocial Attributes, School Environment and Characteristics of Hong Kong Adolescents," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(7), pages 1-16, April.
    7. Xizheng Xu & Zhiqiang Liu & Shaoying Gong & Yunpeng Wu, 2022. "The Relationship between Empathy and Attachment in Children and Adolescents: Three-Level Meta-Analyses," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(3), pages 1-18, January.
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    1. Nie, Jia & Wang, Jilong & Yin, Lipeng & Wang, Wei & Zhang, GuoHua & Wang, Pengcheng, 2024. "Mother phubbing and adolescent loneliness: A three-way moderation model involving attachment anxiety and need to belong," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 164(C).

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