Description
The purpose of this study was to examine whether dispositional sadness predicted children's prosocial behavior and if sympathy mediated this relation. Constructs were measured when children (n = 256 at time 1) were 18, 30, and 42 months old. Mothers and non-parental caregivers rated children's sadness; mothers, caregivers, and fathers rated children's prosocial behavior; sympathy (concern and hypothesis testing) and prosocial behavior (indirect and direct, as well as verbal at older ages) were assessed with a task in which the experimenter feigned injury. In a panel path analysis, 30-month dispositional sadness predicted marginally higher 42-month sympathy; in addition, 30-month sympathy predicted 42-month sadness. Moreover, when controlling for prior levels of prosocial behavior, 30-month sympathy significantly predicted reported and observed prosocial behavior at 42 months. Sympathy did not mediate the relation between sadness and prosocial behavior (either reported or observed).
Details
Title
- Predicting Sympathy and Prosocial Behavior From Young Children's Dispositional Sadness
Contributors
- Edwards, Alison (Author)
- Eisenberg, Nancy (Author)
- Spinrad, Tracy (Author)
- Reiser, Mark (Author)
- Wilkens, Natalie (Author)
- Liew, Jeffrey (Author)
- College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (Contributor)
- Department of Psychology (Contributor)
- Sanford School of Social and Family Dynamics (Contributor)
- School of Mathematical and Statistical Sciences (Contributor)
Date Created
The date the item was original created (prior to any relationship with the ASU Digital Repositories.)
2015-01-01
Resource Type
Collections this item is in
Identifier
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Digital object identifier: 10.1111/sode.12084
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Identifier TypeInternational standard serial numberIdentifier Value1467-9507
Note
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This is the peer reviewed version of the article, which has been published in final form at http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/sode.12084
Citation and reuse
Cite this item
This is a suggested citation. Consult the appropriate style guide for specific citation guidelines.
Edwards, Alison, Eisenberg, Nancy, Spinrad, Tracy L., Reiser, Mark, Eggum-Wilkens, Natalie D., & Liew, Jeffrey (2015). Predicting Sympathy and Prosocial Behavior From Young Children's Dispositional Sadness. SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT, 24(1), 76-94. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/sode.12084