title: The Relation of Pro-Sociality to Self-Esteem: The Mediational Role of Quality of Friendships.
abstract: The present longitudinal study examined the role of quality of friendship in mediating the relation of pro-sociality to self-esteem over time. Participants were 424 Italian young adults (56% females) assessed at two waves (M(age) = 21.1 at Time 1; M(age) = 25 at Time 2). An autoregressive cross-lagged panel model was used to test the mediational model. Self- and friend-report measures of pro-sociality, quality of friendship, and self-esteem were included in the analyses. Results were in line with the hypothesized paths, with quality of friendship mediating the relation of pro-sociality to later self-esteem above and beyond its high stability. Self-esteem, in turn, predicted pro-sociality 4 years later. Overall, the present findings support the potential benefits of behaving pro-socially for an actor in terms of increased perceived self-worth and also expand previous work by outlining the specific mediational role of the quality of friendships. The theoretical and practical implications of these results are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Sapienza, University of Rome.
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zuffianò
authors.affiliation: Arizona State University.
authors.forename: Nancy
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Eisenberg
authors.affiliation: Sapienza, University of Rome.
authors.forename: Guido
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Alessandri
authors.affiliation: Sapienza, University of Rome.
authors.forename: Bernadette Paula
authors.initials: BP
authors.lastname: Luengo Kanacri
authors.affiliation: Sapienza, University of Rome.
authors.forename: Concetta
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pastorelli
authors.affiliation: Sapienza, University of Rome.
authors.forename: Michela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Milioni
authors.affiliation: Sapienza, University of Rome.
authors.forename: Gian Vittorio
authors.initials: GV
authors.lastname: Caprara
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D033062:Friends; D006801:Humans; D007389:Internal-External Control; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D007558:Italy; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D011788:Quality of Life; D012649:Self Concept; D012917:Social Adjustment; D012944:Social Support; D055815:Young Adult