Values and prosociality in middle childhood

This study examined the direction of relations between values and prosocial sharing during middle childhood. A total of 299 children participated (age at first time point in months: M first grade = 80.49, SD = 4.16; M second grade = 92.98, SD = 4.84; 53% female, 47% male) completed a values questionnaire and participated in a resource allocation task over four annual assessments. A random-intercept cross-lagged panel model revealed stable associations between the variables. Prioritizing others' welfare (self-transcendence values) was associated with increases in costly sharing over time, to a stronger extent than costly sharing was also associated with later increases in self-transcendence values. These reciprocal effects were not observed for noncostly giving or self-enhancement values. The findings underscore the role of values in relations to prosocial sharing development, even in middle childhood. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved)

Interpersonal relationship · Longitudinal study · Prosocial behavior · Reciprocal · Reciprocity (cultural anthropology · Resource allocation · Social relation · Task (project management · Welfare · Child and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development · Child and Animal Learning Development · Cultural Differences and Values