Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Toward a Validation of the Prosocial Tendencies Measure Among Chinese Adolescents in Hong Kong

  • Published:
Child Indicators Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The current study examined the psychometric properties of the Chinese version of Prosocial Tendencies Measure (PTM-C) with Chinese adolescents in Hong Kong. Data were derived from 1976 students (Mean age = 14.6 years; 50.1% female) from 17 secondary schools. An exploratory factor analysis was applied first to find out the factor patterns, and then a confirmatory factor analysis was conducted to verify model structures obtained from the exploratory factor analysis. After that, two measurement invariance tests were used to test the construct stability across gender and educational levels. Internal consistency was examined by performing Cronbach’s alpha test. Associations between volunteering and prosocial behaviors and gender differences were also analyzed for concurrent validity examination. Results yielded partial support for the reliability and validity of PTM-C to use with Chinese adolescents in Hong Kong. Differences in findings and suggestions for further revision of PTM-C were discussed.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Bandura, A., Pastorelli, C., Barbaranelli, C., & Caprara, G. V. (1999). Self-efficacy pathways to childhood depression. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 76, 258–269.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bentler, P. M. (1990). Comparative fit indexes in structural models. Psychological Bulletin, 107, 238–246.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Caprara, G. V., Barbaranelli, C., Pastorelli, C., Bandura, A., & Zimbardo, P. G. (2000). Prosocial foundations of children’s academic achievement. Psychological Science, 11, 302–306.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Caprara, G. V., Kanacri, B. P. L., Zuffianò, A., Gerbino, M., & Pastorelli, C. (2015). Why and how to promote adolescents’ prosocial behaviors: Direct, mediated and moderated effects of the CEPIDEA school-based program. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 44, 2211–2229.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Carlo, G. (2014). The development and correlates of prosocial behavior. In M. Killen & J. Smetana (Eds.), Handbook of moral development (pp. 208–234). New York: Psychology Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Carlo, G., & Randall, B. A. (2001). Are all prosocial behaviors equal? A socioecological developmental conception of prosocial behavior. In F. Columbus (Ed.), Advances in psychology research (Vol. 2, pp. 151–170). New York: Nova Science.

    Google Scholar 

  • 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.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Carlo, G., Eisenberg, N., Troyer, D., Switzer, G., & Speer, A. L. (1991). The altruistic personality: In what contexts is it apparent? Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 61, 450–458.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Carlo, G., Eisenberg, N., & Knight, G. P. (1992). An objective measure of adolescents’ prosocial moral reasoning. Journal of Research on Adolescence, 2, 331–349.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Carlo, G., Koller, S. H., Eisenberg, N., Da Silva, M., & Frohlich, C. (1996). A cross-national study on the relations among prosocial moral reasoning, gender role orientations, and prosocial behaviors. Developmental Psychology, 32, 231–240.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Carlo, G., Hausmann, A., Christiansen, S., & Randall, B. A. (2003). Sociocognitive and behavioral correlates of a measure of prosocial tendencies for adolescents. The Journal of Early Adolescence, 23, 107–134.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Carlo, G., McGinley, M., Hayes, R., Batenhorst, C., & Wilkinson, J. (2007). Parenting styles or practices? Parenting, sympathy, and prosocial behaviors among adolescents. The Journal of Genetic Psychology, 168, 147–176.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chen, F. F. (2007). Sensitivity of goodness of fit indexes to lack of measurement invariance. Structural Equation Modeling, 14, 464–504.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chen, B. B., & Li, D. (2008). Effect of classroom ecosystem on children’s prosocial behavior. Advances in Psychological Science, 16, 733–739.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cheung, G. W., & Rensvold, R. B. (2002). Evaluating goodness-of-fit indexes for testing measurement invariance. Structural Equation Modeling, 9, 233–255.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cortina, J. M. (1993). What is coefficient alpha? An examination of theory and applications. Journal of Applied Psychology, 78, 98–104.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Damen, H., Veerman, J. W., Vermulst, A. A., Nieuwhoff, R., de Meyer, R. E., & Scholte, R. H. (2017). Parental empowerment: Construct validity and reliability of a Dutch empowerment questionnaire (EMPO). Journal of Child and Family Studies, 26, 424–436.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Davis, M. H., Mitchell, K. V., Hall, J. A., Lothert, J., Snapp, T., & Meyer, M. (1999). Empathy, expectations, and situational preferences: Personality influences on the decision to participate in volunteer helping behaviors. Journal of Personality, 67, 469–503.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Eisenberg, N., & Fabes, R. A. (1998). Prosocial development. In W. Damon (Series Ed.) & N. Eisenberg (Vol. Ed.), Handbook of child psychology, Vol. 3: Social, emotional, and personality development (5th ed., pp. 701–778). New York: Wiley.

  • Eisenberg, N., & Miller, P. A. (1987). The relation of empathy to prosocial and related behaviors. Psychological Bulletin, 101, 91–119.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Eisenberg, N., Cameron, E., Tryon, K., & Dodez, R. (1981). Socialization of prosocial behavior in the preschool classroom. Developmental Psychology, 17, 773–782.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Eisenberg, N., Spinrad, T. L., & Knafo-Noam, A. (2015). Prosocial development. In R. M. Lerner (Ed.), Handbook of child psychology and developmental science (7th ed., pp. 184–207). New York: Wiley.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fabes, R. A., Carlo, G., Kupanoff, K., & Laible, D. (1999). Early adolescence and prosocial/moral behavior I: The role of individual processes. The Journal of Early Adolescence, 19, 5–16.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ford, J., MacCallum, R., & Tait, M. (1986). The application of exploratory factor analysis in applied psychology: A critical review and analysis. Personnel Psychology, 39, 291–314.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Freund, P. A., Kuhn, J. T., & Holling, H. (2011). Measuring current achievement motivation with the QCM: Short form development and investigation of measurement invariance. Personality and Individual Differences, 51, 629-634.

  • Green, B., Shirk, S., Hanze, D., & Wanstrath, J. (1994). The Children’s global assessment scale in clinical practice: An empirical evaluation. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 33, 1158–1164.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hastings, P. D., Utendale, W. T., & Sullivan, C. (2007). The socialization of prosocial development. In J. E. Grusec & P. D. Hastings (Eds.), Handbook of socialization (pp. 638–664). New York: Guilford Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hayduk, L. A. (1996). LISREL issues, debates, and strategies. Baltimore: The Johns Hopkins University.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hu, L. T., & Bentler, P. M. (1999). Cutoff criteria for fit indexes in covariance structure analysis: Conventional criteria versus new alternatives. Structural Equation Modeling: A Multidisciplinary Journal, 6, 1–55.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jessor, R., & Turbin, M. S. (2014). Parsing protection and risk for problem behavior versus pro-social behavior among US and Chinese adolescents. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 43, 1037–1051.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kanacri, B. P. L., Pastorelli, C., Eisenberg, N., Zuffianò, A., Castellani, V., & Caprara, G. V. (2014). Trajectories of prosocial behavior from adolescence to early adulthood: Associations with personality change. Journal of Adolescence, 37, 701–713.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kim, J., & Mueller, C. (1978). Factor analysis: Statistical methods and practical issues. Beverly Hills: Sage University paper #14.

  • Kline, R. B. (2005). Principles and practice of structural equation modeling (2nd ed.). New York: Guilford.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kokko, K., Tremblay, R. E., Lacourse, E., Nagin, D. S., & Vitaro, F. (2006). Trajectories of prosocial behavior and physical aggression in middle childhood: Links to adolescent school dropout and physical violence. Journal of Research on Adolescence, 16, 403–428.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kou, Y., & Wang, L. (2003). A review of the research on prosocial behaviors in childhood and intervention. Psychological Development and Education, 4, 86–91.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kou, Y., & Zhang, Q. P. (2006). Conceptual representation of early adolescents’ prosocial behavior. Sociological Research, 5, 169–187.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kou, Y., Ma, Y., & Tan, C. (2004). Chinese college students’ prosocial tendencies, prosocial moral reasoning and their correlation patterns. Psychological Science, 27, 329–332.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kou, Y., Hong, H. F., Tan, C., & Li, L. (2007). Revisioning prosocial tendencies measure for adolescents. Psychological Development and Education, 23, 112–117.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kurdek, L. A. (1978). Perspective taking as the cognitive basis of children’s moral development: A review of the literature. Merrill-Palmer Quarterly of Behavior and Development, 24, 3–28.

    Google Scholar 

  • Li, D. (2000). A study of factors influencing the prosocial behavior of children. Psychological Science, 23, 285–288.

    Google Scholar 

  • Li, Z. H., Yin, X. Y., Cai, T. S., & Su, L. Y. (2012). Role of father-child attachment in effects of father involvement on children’s prosocial behavior. Chinese Journal of Clinical Psychology, 20, 705–707.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ma, H. K., Shek, D. T., Cheung, P. C., & Lee, R. Y. (1996). The relation of prosocial and antisocial behavior to personality and peer relationships of Hong Kong Chinese adolescents. The Journal of Genetic Psychology, 157, 255–266.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Markus, H. R., & Lin, L. R. (1999). Conflict ways: Cultural diversity in the meanings and practices of conflict. In D. A. Prentice & D. T. Miller (Eds.), Cultural divides: Understanding and overcoming group conflict (pp. 302–333). New York: Russell Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • McLarnon, M. J. W., & Carswell, J. J. (2013). The personality differentiation by intelligence hypothesis: A measurement invariance investigation. Personality and Individual Differences, 54, 557-561.

  • Nie, Y. G., Li, J. B., & Vazsonyi, A. T. (2016). Self-control mediates the associations between parental attachment and prosocial behavior among Chinese adolescents. Personality and Individual Differences, 96, 36–39.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Oyserman, D., Coon, H. M., & Kemmelmeier, M. (2002). Rethinking individualism and collectivism: Evaluation of theoretical assumptions and meta-analyses. Psychological Bulletin, 128, 3–72.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Padilla-Walker, L. M., Nielson, M. G., & Day, R. D. (2016). The role of parental warmth and hostility on adolescents’ prosocial behavior toward multiple targets. Journal of Family Psychology, 30, 331–340.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Radke-Yarrow, M., Zahn-Waxler, C., & Chapman, M. (1983). Children’s prosocial dispositions and behavior. In P. H. Mussen (Series Ed.) & E. M. Hetherington (Vol. Ed.), Handbook of child psychology, Vol. 4: Socialization, personality, and social development (4th ed., pp. 469–545). New York: Wiley.

  • Ruan, S. L. (2014). Studying on children’s prosocial behavior and its influence factors. Studies in Early Childhood Education, 11, 47–54.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schmitt, N. (1996). Uses and abuses of coefficient alpha. Psychological Assessment, 8, 350–353.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sector, I. (1999). Giving and volunteering in the United States: Findings from a national survey, 1998. Washington, DC: Independent Sector Publications.

    Google Scholar 

  • Siu, A. M., Shek, D. T., & Lai, F. H. (2012). Predictors of prosocial behavior among Chinese high school students in Hong Kong. The Scientific World Journal. doi:10.1100/2012/489156.

  • State Council Information Office of China. (2013). 20th Anniversary of the Implementation of Voluntary Action in China. Retrieved July 3, 2016, from http://news.youth.cn/gn/201312/t20131202_4316041.htm.

  • Underwood, B., & Moore, B. (1982). Perspective-taking and altruism. Psychological Bulletin, 91, 143–173.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wang, J. C., Wang, X. Q., & Jiang, B. F. (2011). Structural equation models: Methods and applications. Beijing: Higher Education Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Weir, K., & Duveen, G. (1981). Further development and validation of the prosocial behavior questionnaire for use by teachers. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 22, 357–374.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Worthington, R. W., & Whittaker, T. A. (2006). Scale development research: A content analysis and recommendations for best practices. The Counseling Psychologist, 34, 806–838.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wu, D. Y. (1996). Parental control: Psychocultural interpretations of Chinese patterns of socialization. In S. Lau (Ed.), Growing up the Chinese way: Chinese child and adolescent development (pp. 1–28). Hong Kong: The Chinese University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Yau, J., & Smetana, J. (2003). Adolescent-parent conflict in Hong Kong and Shenzhen: A comparison of youth in two cultural contexts. International Journal of Behavioral Development, 27, 201–211.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Youniss, J., McLellan, J. A., & Yates, M. (1999). Religion, community service, and identity in American youth. Journal of Adolescence, 22, 243–253.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Youth Research Centre of the HKFYG. (2015). Youth trends in Hong Kong 2015. Hong Kong: The Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zinbarg, R. E., Yovel, I., Revelle, W., & McDonald, R. P. (2006). Estimating generalizability to a latent variable common to all of a scale's indicators: A comparison of estimators for ωh. Applied Psychological Measurement, 30, 121–144.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Social Work, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, N.T, Hong Kong, People’s Republic of China

    Steven Sek-yum Ngai & Lili Xie

Authors
  1. Steven Sek-yum Ngai
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Lili Xie
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Steven Sek-yum Ngai.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Ngai, S.Sy., Xie, L. Toward a Validation of the Prosocial Tendencies Measure Among Chinese Adolescents in Hong Kong. Child Ind Res 11, 1281–1299 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12187-017-9475-6

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12187-017-9475-6

Keywords

Search

Navigation