A Longitudinal Analysis of the Relationship Between Self-Determined Motivation and Prosocial Orientation of Volunteer Tourists: The Mediating Role of Identity Processing Styles in Young Adults
The motivational dimensions of volunteer tourists have been a focal point of scholarly debate, closely aligning with their prosocial orientations. Limited attention has been given to examining these relationships through the lens of identity formation among young tourists. To address this gap, this...
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MDPI AG
2025-04-01
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| author | Liyuan Zhang Anmin Huang |
| author_facet | Liyuan Zhang Anmin Huang |
| author_sort | Liyuan Zhang |
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| description | The motivational dimensions of volunteer tourists have been a focal point of scholarly debate, closely aligning with their prosocial orientations. Limited attention has been given to examining these relationships through the lens of identity formation among young tourists. To address this gap, this study conducted a two-wave longitudinal investigation into the linkage between volunteer tourists’ self-determined motivation and their prosocial orientation, with identity processing styles serving as a mediator. The sample (<i>n</i> = 291) consisted of freshmen and sophomores participating in a volunteer teaching program during the summer of 2024. We measured the variables of interest both before and after their attendance. In addition to direct effects, our findings observed two significant indirect pathways: (1) Wave 1 autonomous motivation was positively associated with an informational identity style at Wave 1, which predicted Wave 2 other-oriented helping tendency; and (2) Wave 1 controlled motivation was positively related to a normative identity style at Wave 1, which accounted for self-oriented helping propensity at Wave 2. Furthermore, the first relationship was uni-directional, as the coefficient for the reverse pathway (i.e., Wave 1 other-oriented helping → Wave 1 informational identity style → Wave 2 autonomous motivation) was not significant. In contrast, the second relationship was bi-directional, wherein Wave 1 self-oriented helping was positively associated with a normative identity style at Wave 1, which subsequently predicted Wave 2 controlled motivation. Taken together, our study contributes to the literature on altruistic motives, prosocial behavior, identity development, and volunteer tourism. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-16a06b63476d45ddbcae52f7891f8161 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2076-328X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| series | Behavioral Sciences |
| spelling | doaj-art-16a06b63476d45ddbcae52f7891f81612025-08-20T02:33:30ZengMDPI AGBehavioral Sciences2076-328X2025-04-0115558810.3390/bs15050588A Longitudinal Analysis of the Relationship Between Self-Determined Motivation and Prosocial Orientation of Volunteer Tourists: The Mediating Role of Identity Processing Styles in Young AdultsLiyuan Zhang0Anmin Huang1College of Tourism, Huaqiao University, Quanzhou 362021, ChinaCollege of Tourism, Huaqiao University, Quanzhou 362021, ChinaThe motivational dimensions of volunteer tourists have been a focal point of scholarly debate, closely aligning with their prosocial orientations. Limited attention has been given to examining these relationships through the lens of identity formation among young tourists. To address this gap, this study conducted a two-wave longitudinal investigation into the linkage between volunteer tourists’ self-determined motivation and their prosocial orientation, with identity processing styles serving as a mediator. The sample (<i>n</i> = 291) consisted of freshmen and sophomores participating in a volunteer teaching program during the summer of 2024. We measured the variables of interest both before and after their attendance. In addition to direct effects, our findings observed two significant indirect pathways: (1) Wave 1 autonomous motivation was positively associated with an informational identity style at Wave 1, which predicted Wave 2 other-oriented helping tendency; and (2) Wave 1 controlled motivation was positively related to a normative identity style at Wave 1, which accounted for self-oriented helping propensity at Wave 2. Furthermore, the first relationship was uni-directional, as the coefficient for the reverse pathway (i.e., Wave 1 other-oriented helping → Wave 1 informational identity style → Wave 2 autonomous motivation) was not significant. In contrast, the second relationship was bi-directional, wherein Wave 1 self-oriented helping was positively associated with a normative identity style at Wave 1, which subsequently predicted Wave 2 controlled motivation. Taken together, our study contributes to the literature on altruistic motives, prosocial behavior, identity development, and volunteer tourism.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-328X/15/5/588autonomyegoismaltruismidentity stylesvolunteer tourism |
| spellingShingle | Liyuan Zhang Anmin Huang A Longitudinal Analysis of the Relationship Between Self-Determined Motivation and Prosocial Orientation of Volunteer Tourists: The Mediating Role of Identity Processing Styles in Young Adults Behavioral Sciences autonomy egoism altruism identity styles volunteer tourism |
| title | A Longitudinal Analysis of the Relationship Between Self-Determined Motivation and Prosocial Orientation of Volunteer Tourists: The Mediating Role of Identity Processing Styles in Young Adults |
| title_full | A Longitudinal Analysis of the Relationship Between Self-Determined Motivation and Prosocial Orientation of Volunteer Tourists: The Mediating Role of Identity Processing Styles in Young Adults |
| title_fullStr | A Longitudinal Analysis of the Relationship Between Self-Determined Motivation and Prosocial Orientation of Volunteer Tourists: The Mediating Role of Identity Processing Styles in Young Adults |
| title_full_unstemmed | A Longitudinal Analysis of the Relationship Between Self-Determined Motivation and Prosocial Orientation of Volunteer Tourists: The Mediating Role of Identity Processing Styles in Young Adults |
| title_short | A Longitudinal Analysis of the Relationship Between Self-Determined Motivation and Prosocial Orientation of Volunteer Tourists: The Mediating Role of Identity Processing Styles in Young Adults |
| title_sort | longitudinal analysis of the relationship between self determined motivation and prosocial orientation of volunteer tourists the mediating role of identity processing styles in young adults |
| topic | autonomy egoism altruism identity styles volunteer tourism |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-328X/15/5/588 |
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