Self-concept promote subjective well-being through gratitude and prosocial behavior during early adolescence? a longitudinal study

Abstract Whether and how self-concept link subjective well-being (SWB) among early adolescents is an important issue. This study employs longitudinal method to explore the relationship between self-concept and SWB, as well as the mediating effects of gratitude and prosocial behavior on this relation...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Jing Li, Yanjiao Li, Yadong Ding
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-04-01
Series:BMC Psychology
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-025-02652-w
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Abstract Whether and how self-concept link subjective well-being (SWB) among early adolescents is an important issue. This study employs longitudinal method to explore the relationship between self-concept and SWB, as well as the mediating effects of gratitude and prosocial behavior on this relationship in early adolescents. A total of 554 early adolescents completed scales at two waves, with a 10-month interval between two measurements. Results showed that, from the perspective of cross-section, self-concept T1 had an indirect effect on SWB T1 through gratitude T1 and prosocial behavior T1. From the longitudinal perspective, self-concept T1 had an indirect predictive effect on SWB T2 through gratitude at T1 and T2, as well as prosocial behavior at T1 and T2. In a word, self-concept positively predicted SWB indirectly in that they positively predicted gratitude and prosocial behavior. These findings help to enrich existing literature and provide a new scientific insight for effectively enhancing early adolescents’ SWB. Implications and limitations were also discussed.
ISSN:2050-7283