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The Chain of Relationships Among Gratitude, Prosocial Behavior and Elementary School Students’ School Satisfaction: The Role of School Affect

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Listed:
  • Lili Tian

    (South China Normal University)

  • Shuya Chu

    (South China Normal University)

  • E. Scott Huebner

    (University of South Carolina)

Abstract

Based on Fredrickson’s Broaden-and-Build Theory of Positive Emotion, we explored the role of school affect (i.e., positive affect in school and negative affect in school) in connecting gratitude, prosocial behavior, and school satisfaction among a sample of 324 (176 males) elementary school students in grades 4 to 6 by using structural equation modeling. The participants completed a packet of questionnaires, including the Gratitude Questionnaire (GQ-6), the Elementary School Students’ Subjective Well-Being in School Scale (ESSSWBSS), and the Primary School Upper Grade Students’ Prosocial Behaviors Questionnaire (PSUGSPBQ). The results showed that elementary school students’ (1) positive affect in school and negative affect in school significantly related to school satisfaction; (2) prosocial behavior fully mediated the relation between gratitude and school satisfaction; (3) gratitude related to school satisfaction indirectly through positive affect in school and negative affect in school. As hypothesized, the effect was stronger for positive affect in school. Limitations and practical applications of the study were discussed.

Suggested Citation

  • Lili Tian & Shuya Chu & E. Scott Huebner, 2016. "The Chain of Relationships Among Gratitude, Prosocial Behavior and Elementary School Students’ School Satisfaction: The Role of School Affect," Child Indicators Research, Springer;The International Society of Child Indicators (ISCI), vol. 9(2), pages 515-532, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:chinre:v:9:y:2016:i:2:d:10.1007_s12187-015-9318-2
    DOI: 10.1007/s12187-015-9318-2
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    2. Wang Liu & Tian Su & Lili Tian & E. Scott Huebner, 2021. "Prosocial Behavior and Subjective Well-Being in School among Elementary School Students: the Mediating Roles of the Satisfaction of Relatedness Needs at School and Self-Esteem," Applied Research in Quality of Life, Springer;International Society for Quality-of-Life Studies, vol. 16(4), pages 1439-1459, August.
    3. Xu, Chunyan & Xie, Xiaochun, 2023. "Put down the phone and accompany me: How parental phubbing undermines prosocial behavior of early adolescents," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 149(C).
    4. Hongcui Yang & Chuqiao Liang & Yue Liang & Ying Yang & Peilian Chi & Xianglong Zeng & Qinglu Wu, 2023. "Association of Gratitude With Individual and Organizational Outcomes Among Volunteers: An Application of Broaden-and-Build Theory of Positive Emotions," SAGE Open, , vol. 13(4), pages 21582440231, December.

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