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The Association Between Prosocial Behavior and Mental Health: A Three-Level Meta-Analysis
Sen Li1, Qingliang Ding1, Yijin Lin2
1School of Education, Hebei University, Baoding, Hebei, China.
Introduction:
Although numerous studies have reported a significant association between prosocial behavior and mental health, other studies have indicated a weak or non-significant, and in some cases even negative link.
Method:
To clarify these inconsistencies, the present study employed a three-level meta-analytic approach to examine the overall association between prosocial behavior and mental health, as well as the moderating effects of various demographic and methodological variables.
Results:
A comprehensive literature search yielded 366 effect sizes (N = 222,866) that were included in the meta-analysis. The main effect revealed a significant positive correlation (r = 0.26, p < 0.001) between prosocial behavior and mental health. Further moderator analyses indicated that this relationship was moderated by culture (F(1, 362) = 16.16, p < 0.001), mental health indicators (i.e., positive vs. negative indicators of mental health; F(1, 364) = 60.86, p < 0.001), mental health measurement tools (F(7, 358) = 2.52, p = 0.015), and research design (i.e., cross-sectional vs. longitudinal studies; F(1, 364) = 21.06, p < 0.001).
Conclusions:
Overall, the findings highlight the positive association between prosocial behavior and mental health and underscore the importance of considering prosocial behavior in efforts aimed at supporting psychological well-being.
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