Work

Early childhood precursors of compassionate concern for others: a 17-year longitudinal study

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: We examined early developmental pathways to compassionate concern for others in emerging adulthood by integrating child individual (gender, empathy), parental (positive parenting), and broad contextual (resources and stresses perceived by mothers) characteristics in childhood using a 17-year longitudinal data. Participants were 241 children (49% girls) and their mothers. Data were collected at 3, 6, and 19 years of child age, using multiple methods and informants. Results of structural equation modeling indicated an indirect pathway from early childhood maternal adjustment to child empathy three years later via positive parenting. In addition, having high levels of empathy in middle childhood and being a female predicted higher levels of compassionate concern in emerging adulthood. Our findings highlight the importance of maternal resources and support, in addition to parenting behaviors, in enhancing children's prosocial behaviors, and provide hints for early intervention to promote compassionate concern for others in emerging adulthood.

Source: The Journal of Positive Psychology

DOI: 10.1080/17439760.2025.2498129

Authors: Sujin Lee, Ka I Ip, Ramaswami Mahalingam, Sheryl L. Olson

Institutions: University of Michigan, University of Minnesota

Language: English

Topic: Child and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development

Subfield: Clinical Psychology

Field: Psychology

Domain: Social Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: hybrid

Funder: National Institute of Mental Health