The relation of prosocial orientation to peer interactions, family social environment and personality of Chinese adolescents

This study investigated the relation of peer interactions, family social environment and personality to prosocial orientation in Chinese adolescents. The results indicated no sex differences in general prosocial orientation and inclination to help others, but sex differences in inclination to maintain an affective relationship and inclination to co-operate and share with others. In general, prosocial orientation was associated negatively with peer negative influence and peer delinquent behavior, and positively with peer positive influence. Prosocial orientation was associated with positive family social environment. In addition, prosocial orientation was associated negatively with psychoticism and neuroticism, but positively with social desirability. The findings suggested that positive peer interactions, good family social environment and positive personality tended to increase the prosocial orientation of adolescents. From the perspective of the theory of planned behavior, the present findings in prosocial orientation were in line with similar findings in prosocial behavior in previous studies. Uses of the construct of prosocial orientation and implications of its correlates were discussed.