How does community service promote prosocial behavior? Examining the role of agency and ideology experience

Abstract

This study examines community service effects on adolescents’ prosocial behaviors as mediated through experiences made during service. Based on theoretical assumptions by Youniss and Yates, we suggest that personal agency experiences and being confronted with situations that can challenge the own world views (ideology experiences) serve as mediators. The data were collected in a two-wave longitudinal study surveying 2,408 German adolescents aged between 14 and 15 years. Based on true intraindividual change models, the results support the expected mediation of service effects on prosocial behaviors through agency, but not ideology experiences. The findings suggest that community service affects prosocial behaviors through a behavioral pathway.

Factors influencing the development of empathy and pro-social behaviour among adolescents: A systematic review

“…Notably, Christoph et al (2014) also observed that ideology changes (e.g. changes in one's self-portrait) were associated with lower helping behaviours.…”

“…Nonetheless, other research noted inconsistent relationships between different forms of prosocial behaviours. For instance, one study reported a negative connection between community service and later prosocial behaviour (Christoph et al, 2014). Davis et al (2018) found that while public, emotional and dire prosocial responding correlated positively with each other, negative associations were found with altruism; a finding which was echoed in the longitudinal research by Brittain et al…”

“…First, a number of studies (n=11) highlighted a link between adolescents' beliefs about their ability (e.g. efficacy) to enact social change, socially engage with others, or respond effectively to others' emotions and their prosocial responding (Alessandri et al, 2009;Bandura et al, 2003;Caprara et al, 2009;Carlo et al, 2017;Christoph, Gniewosz and Reinders, 2014;Gini et al, 2008;Kauten & Barry, 2016;Lichter et al, 2002;Lenzi et al, 2013;McMahon et al, 2012;Wentzel et al, 2007). However, the majority of these studies were correlational and only four papers provided evidence of an association between self-efficacy and prosocial responding over time.…”

“…defending) behaviour in females -and negatively linked with prosocial responding for males. Three additional longitudinal studies indicated that adolescents' agency or feelings of personal effectiveness (Christoph et al, 2014), self-awareness (Reinders & Youniss, 2006) and self-concepts (Crocetti et al, 2016) were positively linked to prosocial (e.g. helping, kindness & donating) responding over time.…”

Gemeinnützige Tätigkeit und soziale Entwicklung im Jugendalter

“…Diese fünf Merkmale sind das Streben nach Selbstvertrauen, Kompetenz, Persönlichkeitsentwicklung, Unterstützung und sozia-ler Verbundenheit und lassen sich gut mit den Merkmalen gemeinnütziger Tätigkeit in Verbindung bringen (Reinders und Christoph 2012). Darüber hinaus lässt sich theoretisch begründen und empirisch nachweisen, dass gemeinnützige Tätigkeit unter angebbaren Bedingungen wertvolle Erfahrungen bereit hält, die die soziale Entwicklung Jugendlicher stützen und durchaus moderate Zukunftsvorhersagen ermöglicht (Eckstein et al 2012;Christoph et al 2014). Gemeinnützige Tätigkeit, zumal in direktem Kontakt mit hilfsbedürftigen Menschen, fördert das prosoziale Verhalten und die kritische Reflexion von Stereotypen bei Jugendlichen und steigert die Wahrscheinlichkeit, dass sich Jugendliche auch als Erwachsene engagieren und allgemein politisch beteiligen.…”