The Effect of Sibling Relationship on Adolescents’ Prosocial Behavior: The Roles of Moral Disengagement and Empathy

Abstract

Abstract: The current study sought to examine whether sibling relationship is significantly related to adolescents’ prosocial behavior and whether this relationship is mediated by moral disengagement. Further, we examined whether empathy moderates the direct and indirect relationships between sibling relationship and adolescents’ prosocial behavior. A total of 659 adolescents from Shanxi Province completed the questionnaires, regarding their experience with sibling relationship, prosocial behavior, empathy, moral disengagement. Results showed that adolescents with positive sibling relationship were likely to engage in prosocial behavior. Moral disengagement significantly mediated the relationship between sibling relationship and prosocial behavior. Furthermore, empathy moderated the indirect relationship between sibling relationships and adolescents’ prosocial behavior via moral disengagement. Specifically, the path from sibling relationship to moral disengagement became weakened when adolescents had high levels of empathy.

Key words: sibling relationship, prosocial behavior, moral disengagement, empathy

摘要： 采用问卷法对山西省659名青少年进行了调查，深入探讨了同胞关系影响亲社会行为的路径，着重考察了道德推脱的中介作用和共情的调节作用。结果显示：（1）同胞关系对亲社会行为具有显著的正向预测作用；（2）道德推脱在同胞关系与亲社会行为之间起中介作用；（3）共情可以显著调节同胞关系与道德推脱之间的关系，但是无法显著调节同胞关系和道德推脱对青少年亲社会行为的影响。具体而言，相比于高共情的青少年，同胞关系对低共情青少年的道德推脱水平影响更大。

关键词: 同胞关系, 亲社会行为, 道德推脱, 共情

CLC Number:

B844

GAO Ling, HUA Suqing, LI Peipei, YANG Jiping, WANG Xingchao. The Effect of Sibling Relationship on Adolescents’ Prosocial Behavior: The Roles of Moral Disengagement and Empathy[J]. Studies of Psychology and Behavior, 2021, 19(2): 216-222.

高玲, 花苏晴, 李沛沛, 杨继平, 王兴超. 同胞关系与青少年亲社会行为：道德推脱的中介作用和共情的调节作用[J]. 心理与行为研究, 2021, 19(2): 216-222.

References

陈斌斌, 赵语, 韩雯, 王逸辰, 吴嘉雯, 岳新宇, 吴英挺. (2017). 手足之情: 同胞关系的类型、影响因素及对儿童发展的作用机制. 心理科学进展, 25(12), 2168–2178
丁芳. (2000). 儿童的道德判断、移情与亲社会行为的关系研究. 山东师范大学学报(社会科学版), (5), 77–80
丁凤琴, 陆朝晖. (2016). 共情与亲社会行为关系的元分析. 心理科学进展, 24(8), 1159–1174
丁梦媛, 方燕玉, 倪军, 冷玥, 邓慧华. (2017). 大学生母亲教养方式、共情与亲社会行为的关系. 中国健康心理学杂志, 25(4), 528–531
董颖红, 陈迪, 付美云. (2018). 同胞关系对儿童青少年心理发展的影响. 中国学校卫生, 39(7), 1110–1114
方杰, 王兴超. (2020). 冷酷无情特质与大学生网络欺负行为的关系: 道德推脱的调节作用. 中国临床心理学杂志, 28(2), 281–284
洪伟. (2019). 同胞关系对儿童社会性发展的影响. 少年儿童研究, (2), 44–48
寇彧, 洪慧芳, 谭晨, 李磊. (2007). 青少年亲社会倾向量表的修订. 心理发展与教育, 23(1), 112–117, doi: 10.3969/j.issn.1001-4918.2007.01.020
李明霞, 郑昊, 刘正奎. (2019). 农村青少年抑郁症状和亲社会行为的关系. 中国学校卫生, 40(11), 1665–1668
潘彦谷, 刘衍玲, 冉光明, 雷浩, 马建苓, 滕召军. (2013). 动物和人类的利他本性: 共情的进化. 心理科学进展, 21(7), 1229–1238
孙颖, 陈丽蓉. (2017). 父母教养方式对个体利他行为的影响——道德推脱、道德认同的链式中介作用. 教育理论与实践, 37(29), 18–21
王文婷. (2014). 高中生同胞关系与孤独感的关系: 同伴关系的中介作用 (硕士学位论文). 鲁东大学, 烟台.
王兴超, 杨继平. (2013). 道德推脱与大学生亲社会行为: 道德认同的调节效应. 心理科学, 36(4), 904–909
王艳辉, 李董平, 孙文强, 赵力燕, 赖雪芬, 周月月. (2017). 亲子依恋与初中生亲社会行为: 有调节的中介效应. 心理学报, 49(5), 663–679
魏曙光, 孙五俊, 陈洁, 孙锦绣. (2017). 家庭环境与大学生亲社会行为: 有调节的中介作用. 中国临床心理学杂志, 25(4), 743–746
杨继平, 王兴超. (2012). 道德推脱对青少年攻击行为的影响: 有调节的中介效应. 心理学报, 44(8), 1075–1085
杨继平, 王兴超, 高玲. (2010). 道德推脱的概念、测量及相关变量. 心理科学进展, 18(4), 671–678
赵凤青, 俞国良. (2017). 同胞关系及其与儿童青少年社会性发展的关系. 心理科学进展, 25(5), 825–836
Bandura, A., Barbaranelli, C., Caprara, G. V., & Pastorelli, C. (1996). Mechanisms of moral disengagement in the exercise of moral agency. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 71(2), 364–374, doi: 10.1037/0022-3514.71.2.364.
Batson, C. D. (1987). Prosocial motivation: Is it ever truly altruistic? Advances in Experimental Social Psychology, 20, 65–122.
Campione-Barr, N., & Killoren, S. (2015). Sibling relationships and development. In R. Scott & S. Kosslyn (Eds.), Emerging trends in the social and behavioral sciences: An interdisciplinary, searchable, and linkable resource (pp. 1–15). Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons, Inc..
Caravita, S. C. S., Sijtsema, J. J., Rambaran, J. A., & Gini, G. (2014). Peer influences on moral disengagement in late childhood and early adolescence. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 43(2), 193–207, doi: 10.1007/s10964-013-9953-1.
Carlo, G., & Randall, B. A. (2002). The development of a measure of prosocial behaviors for late adolescents. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 31, 31–44, doi: 10.1023/A:1014033032440.
Cicirelli, V. G. (1995). A measure of caregiving daughters’ attachment to elderly mothers. Journal of Family Psychology, 9(1), 89–94, doi: 10.1037/0893-3200.9.1.89.
Dunn, J., Brown, J. R., & Maguire, M. (1995). The development of children’s moral sensibility: Individual differences and emotion understanding. Developmental Psychology, 31(4), 649–659, doi: 10.1037/0012-1649.31.4.649.
Fang, J., Wang, X. C., Yuan, K. H., & Wen, Z. L. (2020). Childhood psychological maltreatment and moral disengagement: A moderated mediation model of callous-unemotional traits and empathy. Personality and Individual Differences, 157, 109814, doi: 10.1016/j.paid.2020.109814.
Feinberg, M. E., Solmeyer, A. R., & McHale, S. M. (2012). The third rail of family systems: Sibling relationships, mental and behavioral health, and preventive intervention in childhood and adolescence. Clinical Child and Family Psychology Review, 15, 43–57, doi: 10.1007/s10567-011-0104-5.
Fergus, S., & Zimmerman, M. A. (2005). Adolescent resilience: A framework for understanding healthy development in the face of risk. Annual Review of Public Health, 26, 399–419, doi: 10.1146/annurev.publhealth.26.021304.144357.
Furman, W., & Buhrmester, D. (1985). Children’s perceptions of the personal relationships in their social networks. Developmental Psychology, 21(6), 1016–1024, doi: 10.1037/0012-1649.21.6.1016.
Guo, Q. K., Guo, Y. K., Qiao, X. Q., Leng, J., & Lv, Y. Q. (2021). Chance locus of control predicts moral disengagement which decreases well-being. Personality and Individual Differences, 171, 110489, doi: 10.1016/j.paid.2020.110489.
Howe, N., Persram, R. J., & Bergeron, C. (2020). Sibling relationships in adolescence. In The encyclopedia of child and adolescent development. New York: Wiley & Sons, Inc..
Jolliffe, D., & Farrington, D. P. (2006). Development and validation of the basic empathy scale. Journal of Adolescence, 29(4), 589–611, doi: 10.1016/j.adolescence.2005.08.010.
Kokkinos, C. M., & Kipritsi, E. (2018). Bullying, moral disengagement and empathy: Exploring the links among early adolescents. Educational Psychology, 38(4), 535–552, doi: 10.1080/01443410.2017.1363376.
Lerner, R. M., Lerner, J. V., Almerigi, J., & Theokas, C. (2006). Dynamics of individual-context relations in human development: A developmental systems perspective. In J. C. Thomas & D. L. Segal (Vol. Eds.), M. Hersen & J. C. Thomas (Eds.), Comprehensive handbook of personality and psychopathology: Vol. 1. Personality and everyday functioning (pp. 23–43). Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Longobardi, C., Borello, L., Thornberg, R., & Settanni, M. (2020). Empathy and defending behaviours in school bullying: The mediating role of motivation to defend victims. British Journal of Educational Psychology, 90(2), 473–486, doi: 10.1111/bjep.12289.
McHale, S. M., Updegraff, K. A., & Whiteman, S. D. (2012). Sibling relationships and influences in childhood and adolescence. Journal of Marriage and Family, 74(5), 913–930, doi: 10.1111/j.1741-3737.2012.01011.x.
Morgan, J. K., Shaw, D. S., & Olino, T. M. (2012). Differential susceptibility effects: The interaction of negative emotionality and sibling relationship quality on childhood Internalizing problems and social skills. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 40(6), 885–899, doi: 10.1007/s10802-012-9618-7.
Nelson, S. K., Layous, K., Cole, S. W., & Lyubomirsky, S. (2016). Do unto others or treat yourself? The effects of prosocial and self-focused behavior on psychological flourishing. Emotion, 16(6), 850–861, doi: 10.1037/emo0000178.
Pike, A., & Oliver, B. R. (2017). Child behavior and sibling relationship quality: A cross-lagged analysis. Journal of Family Psychology, 31(2), 250–255, doi: 10.1037/fam0000248.
Shi, X. X., Wang, B. Y., He, T. T., Wu, L. L., & Zhang, J. X. (2020). Secure attachments predict prosocial behaviors: A moderated mediation study. PsyCh Journal, 9(5), 597–608, doi: 10.1002/pchj.348.
Smorti, M., & Ponti, L. (2018). How does sibling relationship affect children’s prosocial behaviors and best friend relationship quality? Journal of Family Issues, 39(8), 2413–2436, doi: 10.1177/0192513X18755195.
Streit, C., Carlo, G., Killoren, S. E., & Alfaro, E. C. (2018). Family members’ relationship qualities and prosocial behaviors in U.S. Mexican young adults: The roles of familism and ethnic identity resolution. Journal of Family Issues, 39(4), 1056–1084, doi: 10.1177/0192513X16686134.
Wang, M. Z., Wang, J., Deng, X. L., & Chen, W. (2019). Why are empathic children more liked by peers? The mediating roles of prosocial and aggressive behaviors. Personality and Individual Differences, 144, 19–23, doi: 10.1016/j.paid.2019.02.029.
Wang, X. C., Lei, L., Yang, J. P., Gao, L., & Zhao, F. Q. (2017). Moral disengagement as mediator and moderator of the relation between empathy and aggression among Chinese male juvenile delinquents. Child Psychiatry and Human Development, 48(2), 316–326, doi: 10.1007/s10578-016-0643-6.
Wang, X. C., Yang, J. P., Wang, P. C., & Lei, L. (2019). Childhood maltreatment, moral disengagement, and adolescents’ cyberbullying perpetration: Fathers’ and mothers’ moral disengagement as moderators. Computers in Human Behavior, 95, 48–57, doi: 10.1016/j.chb.2019.01.031.
Yeh, H. C., & Lempers, J. D. (2004). Perceived sibling relationships and adolescent development. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 33(2), 133–147, doi: 10.1023/B:JOYO.0000013425.86424.0f.
Yu, G. L., Li, S., & Zhao, F. Q. (2020). Childhood maltreatment and prosocial behavior among chinese adolescents: Roles of empathy and gratitude. Child Abuse & Neglect, 101, 104319.

[1]	ZHONG Weifang, GUO Yongxing. Ability to Recognize Sadness in Ambiguous Facial Expressions Affects Empathy for Pain [J]. Studies of Psychology and Behavior, 2022, 20(5): 585-592.
[2]	SHI Xinxin, WU Yifei, FENG Ying. Parental Differential Treatment and Adolescents’ Problem Behavior: A Moderated Mediation Model [J]. Studies of Psychology and Behavior, 2022, 20(5): 644-650.
[3]	MA Liyun, MO Wen. The Influence of Positive Emotion on Prosocial Behavior Under Ego-Depletion [J]. Studies of Psychology and Behavior, 2022, 20(5): 684-691.
[4]	WANG Yuepeng, MENG Weijie. The Effect of Classroom Bullying Norms on Bystanders’ Behavior of Junior High School Students: The Mediating Role of Moral Disengagement [J]. Studies of Psychology and Behavior, 2022, 20(4): 522-528.
[5]	TIAN Huidong, ZHANG Yuhong, WANG Kui, SUN Haoxiang, LIU Hongyu. The Relationship Between Gratitude and Prosocial Behavior of Hearing-Impaired Students: A Moderated Mediation Model [J]. Studies of Psychology and Behavior, 2022, 20(4): 549-555.
[6]	CHANG Baorui, LIN Peitian, HUANG Jiangxi, FANG Jiandong. The Effect of Materialism and Future Orientation on the Relationship Between Social Exclusion and Prosocial Behavior [J]. Studies of Psychology and Behavior, 2022, 20(4): 556-562.
[7]	DING Qian, LUO Xingyu. Influence of Perceived Discrimination on Left-Behind Adolescents’ Aggression: The Multiple Mediating Effect Analysis [J]. Studies of Psychology and Behavior, 2022, 20(3): 346-352.
[8]	LUO Li, YANG Dong, CHEN Shengdong, GAO Wei, CHEN Yongqiang, YUAN Jiajin. Dispositional Awe Positively Predicts Prosocial Tendencies: Multiple Mediation Effects of Self-Transcendence and Empathy [J]. Studies of Psychology and Behavior, 2022, 20(3): 390-396.
[9]	YUAN Bo, LIAO Suxia, GUO Qiaoqiao, GAO Qiyang, CHEN Siyu. Social Mindfulness of Migrant Children and Its Promotion [J]. Studies of Psychology and Behavior, 2022, 20(2): 268-273.
[10]	GUO Ying, CHEN Canjie, HU Dong, YUAN Anyi. Moral Identity and College Students’ Prosocial Behavior Tendency: The Mediating Effect of Empathy and the Moderating Effect of Mindfulness [J]. Studies of Psychology and Behavior, 2022, 20(1): 80-87.
[11]	YAN Zhiqiang, LI Shan. The Association of Empathy on Depression: The Moderating Effect of Peer-Relationship [J]. Studies of Psychology and Behavior, 2021, 19(3): 424-430.
[12]	ZHANG Zhen. The Relationship Between Narcissism and Aggression: The Moderating Effects of Perspective Taking and Empathy Concern [J]. Studies of Psychology and Behavior, 2021, 19(1): 131-136.
[13]	SONG Juan, DU Meng, LIAN Tao, ZHANG Qian. Positive Emotion’s Effect from Nostalgia on Pain Empathy: An ERP Study [J]. Studies of Psychology and Behavior, 2020, 18(4): 466-473.
[14]	TAN Qianbao, LI Jiayuan, LIU Xu. The Effect of Cumulative Ecological Risk on Aggressive Behaviors for Rural Junior School Students: A Moderated Mediation Model [J]. Studies of Psychology and Behavior, 2020, 18(4): 489-495.
[15]	LI Ang, ZHANG Jinghuan. The Prediction of Parent-Child Relationship and Empathy on Adolescents’ Social Creativity: The Mediating Role of Friendship Quality [J]. Studies of Psychology and Behavior, 2020, 18(4): 496-502.