| To date,a series of theoretical discussions and empirical studies have been carried out on prosocial behaviors and well-being.Although it provided us abundant potentially important results,there are still many study limitations that are worthy of consideration.First,although much research has been accumulated investigating prosocial behaviors under the background of Chinese culture,less is understood regarding the criterion variables of prosocial behaviors,let alone the impacts of prosocial behaviors on well-being.Second,previous studies about the relationships between prosocial behaviors and well-being have been conducted with Western samples,thus little is known about the mediating and moderating mechanisms underlying these associations.Third,little research has investigated the experiences of the behavior agents,recipients,and the bystanders in the interpersonal event of prosocial behaviors,in order to comprehensively understand these individuals' well-being in prosocial interaction.Fourth,most previous research used questionnaire method to measure prosocial behaviors and well-being,thus the relationship between prosocial behaviors and well-being as well as the mediating and moderating mechanisms were not well investigated.Therefore,multiple methods are needed to reinforce the accuracy of the conclusion.To address aforementioned limitations in the existing literature,the present study comprehensively used cross-sectional method,diary longitudinal method,longitudinal method,experimental method,and intervention method and so on.The present study had four goals: First,this study examined how prosocial behaviors influence well-being,which is referred to the mediating roles of basic psychological needs satisfaction.Second,this study examined when prosocial behaviors can influence well-being and when can not,which is referred to the moderating roles ofmotivation for prosocial behaviors.Third,this study not only examined the well-being benefits to the agents,but also examined the well-being benefits to the recipients and the bystanders.By investigating the experiences of the behavior agents,recipients,and the bystanders to comprehensively understand these individuals' well-being in prosocial interaction,as well as the mediating roles of basic psychological needs satisfaction and the moderating roles of motivation for prosocial behaviors.Fourth,this study designed a series of courses and activities focusing on the elevation of prosocial behaviors,in order to promote individuals' well-being.This dissertation included four parts:The first part included three studies(questionnaire study,specifically,study 1used cross-sectional method,and study 2 as well as study 3 used longitudinal methods).Based on 681 undergraduates,study 1 used cross-sectional method to assess the relationships between altruistic behaviors and well-being,as well as the mediating effects of basic psychological needs satisfaction.Based on 96 undergraduates,study 2 used a diary longitudinal method to assess daily relationships between helping behaviors(i.e.,informal prosocial behaviors)and well-being,as well as tested the mediating effects of basic psychological needs satisfaction.Based on 177 undergraduates,study 3 was conducted with longitudinal study to examine the relationships between volunteering(i.e.,formal prosocial behaviors)and well-being,and also tested the mediating effects of basic psychological needs satisfaction.The second part included three studies(quasi-experimental study).Base on 118 undergraduates,study 1 was conducted to assess the effects of prosocial behaviors on well-being and the mediating effects of basic psychological needs satisfaction.Based on 177 undergraduates,study 2 tested the effects of autonomous-controlled motivation for prosocial behaviors on well-being,as well as the mediating effects of basic psychological needs satisfaction.Based on 170 undergraduates,study 3 tested the moderating effects of motivation for prosocial behaviors on relationships between prosocial behaviors,basic psychological needs satisfaction,and well-being.The third part included one study(experimental study).Actually,prosocial behaviors are inherently interpersonal events and as such it is useful and important to consider the impacts of prosocial behaviors not only on the helpers,but also on the person being helped and the bystanders.Thus based on 180 undergraduates,this study examined the well-being consequences of helping versus not helping in an interpersonal task for the agents,recipients,and bystanders,as well as the mediating roles of basic psychological needs satisfaction and the moderating roles of motivation for prosocial behaviors.The fourth part included one study(intervention study).Based on 173 undergraduates,this study was conducted to assess the effectiveness of group counseling on prosocial behaviors,in order to facilitate the undergraduates' well-being.The main findings of this dissertation were as follows:1.Prosocial behaviors can positively influence well-being under Chinese cultural background.2.The effects of prosocial behaviors on well-being were mediated by basic psychological needs satisfaction.Specifically,prosocial behaviors positively predicted basic psychological needs satisfaction of autonomy,competence,and relatedness,in turn,positively predicted undergraduates' well-being.3.Motivation for prosocial behaviors moderated the relationships between prosocial behaviors,basic psychological needs satisfaction,and well-being.Specifically,autonomous motivation for prosocial behaviors would facilitate basic psychological needs satisfaction of autonomy and relatedness,as well as well-being,while controlled motivation for prosocial behaviors would be harmful to basic psychological needs satisfaction of autonomy,as well as well-being.4.In an interpersonal task,prosocial behaviors were positively related to basic psychological needs satisfaction and well-being of the agents,recipients,and bystanders.Specially,they can experience more basic psychological needs satisfaction and well-being than non-helpers.The higher autonomous motivation for prosocial behaviors,as a result,the promotion of prosocial behaviors on well-beingof the agents,recipients,and bystanders was higher.Moreover,the effects of prosocial behaviors on the agents' well-being were mediated by basic psychological needs satisfaction of autonomy and relatedness.5.Psychological intervention could promote undergraduates' well-being in this study.The results demonstrated that encouraging individuals to conduct prosocial behaviors improved well-being.Taken together,as the first attempt in Chinese culture,this dissertation extended Western findings to Chinese background.This dissertation offers a window into the immediate effects and long-term effects of prosocial behaviors on undergraduates' well-being in China,by comprehensively conducting with multiple methods.This study supported the relevant theories in this area,such as self-determination theory.On the basis of these theories,the present study explored the mechanisms between prosocial behaviors and well-being,including the mediating roles of basic psychological needs satisfaction,as well as the moderating roles of motivation for prosocial behaviors.The present findings expand on the existing research and enhance theories of prosocial behaviors.Also,the findings have important implications for increasing undergraduates' prosocial behaviors and well-being. |
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