Positive parenting and children's prosocial behavior in eight countries

Concetta Pastorelli, University of Rome La Sapienza
Jennifer E. Lansford, Duke University
Bernadette Paula Luengo Kanacri, University of Rome La Sapienza
Patrick S. Malone, University of South Carolina
Laura Di Giunta, University of Rome La Sapienza
Dario Bacchini, Second University of Naples
Anna Silvia Bombi, University of Rome La Sapienza
Arnaldo Zelli, University of Rome
Maria Concetta Miranda, Second University of Naples
Marc H. Bornstein, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
Sombat Tapanya, Chiang Mai University
Liliana Maria Uribe Tirado, Universidad San Buenaventura
Liane Peña Alampay, Ateneo de Manila University
Suha M. Al-Hassan, Hashemite University
Lei Chang
Kirby Deater-Deckard
Kenneth A. Dodge, Duke University
Paul Oburu, Maseno University
Ann T. Skinner, Duke University
Emma Sorbring, University West

Abstract

Background

Research supports the beneficial role of prosocial behaviors on children's adjustment and successful youth development. Empirical studies point to reciprocal relations between negative parenting and children's maladjustment, but reciprocal relations between positive parenting and children's prosocial behavior are understudied. In this study reciprocal relations between two different dimensions of positive parenting (quality of the mother–child relationship and the use of balanced positive discipline) and children's prosocial behavior were examined in Colombia, Italy, Jordan, Kenya, the Philippines, Sweden, Thailand, and the United States.

Methods

Mother–child dyads (N = 1105) provided data over 2 years in two waves (M age of child in wave 1 = 9.31 years, SD = 0.73; 50% female).

Results

A model of reciprocal relations between parenting dimensions, but not among parenting and children's prosocial behavior, emerged. In particular, children with higher levels of prosocial behavior at age 9 elicited higher levels of mother–child relationship quality in the following year.

Conclusions

Findings yielded similar relations across countries, evidencing that being prosocial in late childhood contributes to some degree to the enhancement of a nurturing and involved mother–child relationship in countries that vary widely on sociodemographic profiles and psychological characteristics. Policy and intervention implications of this study are discussed.