Positive effects of promoting prosocial behavior in early adolescence: Evidence from a school-based intervention

Caprara, G. V. and Kanacri, B. P. L. and Gerbino, M. and Zuffiano, A. and Alessandri, G. and Vecchio, G. and Caprara, E. and Pastorelli, C. and Bridglall, B. (2014) Positive effects of promoting prosocial behavior in early adolescence: Evidence from a school-based intervention. International Journal of Behavioral Development, 38 (4). pp. 386-396. ISSN 0165-0254

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Abstract

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of a pilot school-based intervention called CEPIDEA, designed to promote prosocial behavior in early adolescence. The study took place in a middle school located in a small city near Rome. The intervention group included 151 students (52.3% males; Mage = 12.4), and the control group 173 students (50.3% females; Mage = 13.0). Both groups were assessed at three time points, each 6 months apart. A Latent Growth Curve analysis revealed that the intervention group, compared to the control group, showed an increase of helping behavior along with a decrease of physical and verbal aggression across time. Current results also showed that the increase of helping behavior mediated the decline of verbal aggression in adolescents who had attended the intervention. Participants of CEPIDEA also attained higher grades than the control group at the end of middle school. Overall, findings suggest that promoting prosocial behavior may serve to counteract aggressive conduct and enhance academic achievement during adolescence.

Item Type: Article
Additional Information and Comments: This is the author's post peer review version of an article, the final version will appear in the Sage Publications journal International Journal of Behavioral Development.
Faculty / Department: Faculty of Human and Digital Sciences > School of Psychology
Depositing User: Antonio Zuffiano
Date Deposited: 06 Apr 2016 14:40
Last Modified: 16 Nov 2017 21:09
URI: https://hira.hope.ac.uk/id/eprint/987

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