Activating Self-Transcendence Values to Promote Prosocial Behaviors among Adolescents during the COVID-19 Pandemic: The Moderating Role of Positive Orientation

A web-based intervention designed to activate self-transcendence values increased COVID-19 prosocial behaviors among Italian adolescents, but only for those who already had a strong positive orientation. Self-transcendence values and positive orientation were both positively linked to prosociality, and the link between self-transcendence and prosociality was stronger in the intervention group than in the control group. A three-way interaction showed that for the intervention group, the effect of self-transcendence on prosocial behavior was significant only among adolescents with high positive orientation.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Abstract The COVID-19 pandemic has severely affected people’s health, daily routine, and behaviors. Its effects have been most pronounced for the youngest and oldest generations. Their daily lives have completely changed throughout the pandemic. Self-transcendence values and positive orientation could facilitate optimal adjustment to this situation by promoting prosociality. The present study aimed to discover if applying a new, web-based intervention could activate self-transcendence values in a group of Italian adolescents, fostering COVID-19 prosocial behaviors while also considering the role of positive orientation. The study adopted a longitudinal, web-based, and quasi-experimental design. One hundred and forty adolescents between 15 and 19 years of age were involved in the study two times (T1-T2). Participants were assigned to an intervention or control group. All participants completed the self-transcendence subscale extracted from the 21-item Portrait Values Questionnaire, the Positive Orientation Scale, and the COVID-19 Prosocial Experiences Scale. The results showed that adolescents’ self-transcendence values and positive orientation were positively associated with COVID-19 prosociality. However, the relationship between self-transcendence values and COVID-19 prosocial behaviors was significantly more robust in the intervention group. Finally, a three-way interaction (self-transcendence*group*positive orientation) emerged as significant. For the intervention group, the effect of self-transcendence values on COVID-19 prosocial behaviors was significant only for adolescents who reported a strong positive orientation. Limitations of the study, future research developments, and practical implications are discussed.