Attachment and prosocial behavior: Testing a social-cognitive learning model

This study examines self-efficacy ass a mediating variable between attachment and prosocial behavior. Research indicates that there is a relationship between parent-child attachment and prosocial behavior with peers, but the intrapsychic processes that explain this relationship are not clear. Belsky and Cassidy (1994) propose three models that might explain how attachment affects later competence. One of these models suggests that attachment could be related to prosocial behavior through an unknown third variable. The present study tests whether self-efficacy for prosocial behavior could be the third variable. The model suggests that a secure attachment between parent and child result in self-efficacy for prosocial behaviors in the child, which then influences the child to engage in prosocial behavior.;A sample of 108 sixth-grade children was recruited from four diverse schools. Attachment was assessed concurrently by both a projective measure and a self-report measure assessing feelings of felt-security with the child's primary and secondary caregivers. Prosocial behavior was measured by teacher-ratings, peer nominations and self-ratings.;An analysis using structural equation modeling showed a significant relationship between measures of attachment and prosocial behavior as well as measures of attachment and self-efficacy. These findings suggest that self-efficacy might be a mediating variable, but that relationship is not clear. Findings also suggested that the two attachment scales measure different aspects of the attachment relationship and predict different aspects of prosocial behavior and feelings of self-efficacy for performing prosocial behavior.