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Understanding the Relationship between Parental Psychological Control and Prosocial Behavior in Children in China: The Role of Self-Efficacy and Gender

Author

Listed:
  • Wangqian Fu

    (Faculty of Education, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Qianqian Pan

    (Centre for Research in Pedagogy and Practice, Office of Education Research, National Institute of Education, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 639798, Singapore)

  • Weida Zhang

    (School of Education, Renmin University of China, Beijing 100872, China
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Lei Zhang

    (Department of Politics, Beijing Health Vocational College, Beijing 100053, China)

Abstract

Objectives: Prosocial behavior is essential for individuals’ development, and the study aims to analyze the relationship between parental psychological control and prosocial behavior. Method: The current study investigated the relationships among Paternal Psychological Control (endogenous variable), General Self-Efficacy (mediator), and Prosocial Behaviors (exogenous endogenous variable) via a moderated mediation modeling approach (gender as the moderator). A total of 1822 Chinese students aged from 7- to 17-year-old (M age = 12.4 years old, SD age = 1.89, 48.6% girls) were included in the current study. Results: After controlling participants’ age, the only child status, family income, and parent’s education level, results revealed that higher levels of parental control were associated with lower levels of students’ self-efficacy, which, in turn, reduced students’ prosocial behavior intention. Moreover, the relationship between self-efficacy and prosocial behavior intention was moderated by students’ gender, where the positive effects of self-efficacy on prosocial behavior intentions were reduced in girls. Conclusion: Findings highlight the importance of parental psychological control for supporting children’s self-efficacy to promote prosocial behaviors on different gender groups.

Suggested Citation

  • Wangqian Fu & Qianqian Pan & Weida Zhang & Lei Zhang, 2022. "Understanding the Relationship between Parental Psychological Control and Prosocial Behavior in Children in China: The Role of Self-Efficacy and Gender," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(18), pages 1-15, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:18:p:11821-:d:918970
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Wang, Yanhui & Tian, Lili & Huebner, E. Scott, 2019. "Parental control and Chinese adolescent smoking and drinking: The mediating role of refusal self-efficacy and the moderating role of sensation seeking," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 102(C), pages 63-72.
    2. Arantxa Gorostiaga & Jone Aliri & Nekane Balluerka & Joanes Lameirinhas, 2019. "Parenting Styles and Internalizing Symptoms in Adolescence: A Systematic Literature Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(17), pages 1-19, September.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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