The Multidimensionality of Prosocial Behaviors and Evidence of Measurement Equivalence in Mexican American and European American Early Adolescents

Authors

Gustavo Carlo, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
George P. Knight, Arizona State University at the Tempe Campus
Meredith McGinley, University of Illinois at Chicago
Byron L. Zamboanga, Smith College
Lorna Hernandez Jarvis, Hope CollegeFollow

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2010

Publication Source

Journal of Research on Adolescence

Volume Number

20

Issue Number

2

First Page

334

Last Page

358

Publisher

Wiley-Blackwell Publishing Inc.

ISSN

1050-8392

Abstract

There is growing recognition of the need to examine distinct forms of prosocial behaviors and to conduct research on prosocial behaviors among ethnic minorities. Middle school students (mean age=12.67 years; 54% girls; European American, n=290; Mexican American, n=152) completed a multidimensional measure of prosocial behavior and measures of parental monitoring, externalizing behaviors, and religiosity. Results yield supportive evidence that anonymous, dire, emotional, compliant, public, and altruism are different forms of prosocial behaviors. Moreover, the measure of prosocial behaviors shows measurement equivalence properties across ethnicity and gender. The discussion focuses on the multidimensional nature of prosocial behaviors and implications for future research on prosocial behaviors.

Recommended Citation

Published in: Journal of Research on Adolescence, Volume 20, Issue 2, January 1, 2010, pages 334-358. Copyright © 2010 Wiley-Blackwell Publishing Inc., Malden, MA. The final published version is available at: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1532-7795.2010.00637.x