Sense of meaning in life, self-acceptance, and prosocial behavior: an application of network analysis methods
Year: 2025
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Objective: To explore the characteristics and core items of the network structure between school students' sense of meaning in life, self-acceptance, and prosocial behavior, and to provide a basis for understanding the relationship between their sense of meaning in life, self-acceptance and prosocial behavior and related interventions. Methods: A survey of 1232 school students was conducted using the Self-Acceptance Scale, the prosocial Behavior Scale, and the Sense of Meaning of Life Scale. Network analysis was used to construct the network of prosocial behavior, self-acceptance, and sense of the meaning of life among school students, and the software R was used for statistical analysis and visualization. Results: In the regularized bias correlation network of self-acceptance, prosocial behavior, and sense of meaning in life among school students, self-acceptance and self-appraisal, having meaning and self-appraisal, anonymity and altruism had the strongest correlation; emotionality, altruism, and urgency had the highest expected impact; and having meaning and self-appraisal had the highest expected impact of the bridge. Conclusion: Self-acceptance, meaning in life, and prosocial behavior are interrelated; interventions targeting emotionality, altruism, and urgency in the prosocial behavior dimensions may maximize prosocial behavioral effects among college students.
Source: Frontiers in Psychology
Authors: Li Guo, Yangtong Niu, Xinying Li, Yuting Li, Zhaoxia Xue, Guane Yang
Institution: Shanxi Medical University
Language: English
Subfield: Social Psychology
Field: Psychology
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $3,801
OpenAlex ID: W4409216167