Grandpa and Grandma Told Me So: The Mediating Role of Empathy on the Relationship Between Grandparental Involvement and Adult Grandchildren’s Prosocial Behaviors

• In Event: Family Ecosystem and Its Relationship to Positive Adolescent Functioning

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to explore the mediating role of empathy (cognitive/affective) in the relationship between grandparental involvement and grandchildren’s prosocial behaviors from a Chinese adult grandchildren’s perspective. A sample of 321 young adults aged 18-30 participated in this study. Using structural equation modeling, we found that both cognitive and affective empathy were positively associated with prosocial behaviors. However, perceived grandparental involvement was only significantly and positively related to young adults’ cognitive empathy but not affective empathy. Moreover, results showed that perceived grandparental involvement indirectly contributed to prosocial behaviors in young adult grandchildren through the mediating role of cognitive empathy.

Authors

• Wei-Wen Chen, University of Macau

• Ziying Wang, University of Macau

• Jiayi Liang, University of Macau