The relationship between moral identity and prosocial behavior in adolescents: the parallel mediating roles of general belongingness and moral elevation

Adolescence has long been acknowledged as a crucial period in fostering and advancing moral identity and prosocial behavior. While moral identity, in the social cognitive model, has generally been considered to promote prosocial behavior, yet a more in-depth investigation of the mediation mechanism underlying this relationship in adolescents still remains to be undertaken. Utilizing the latent variable structural equation model (SEM), this study examined both dimensions of moral identity and their relationship with prosocial behavior in adolescents (12 to 16 years), as well as the parallel mediating roles of general belongingness and moral elevation in this relationship. Participants (n = 1,000) from two public schools in China completed measures of moral identity internalization/symbolization, prosocial behavior, general belongingness, and moral elevation. Results demonstrated a positive relationship between two dimensions of moral identity and prosocial behavior. They supported that moral identity internalization and symbolization are associated with prosocial behavior through a parallel mediation effect of general belongingness and moral elevation, with moral elevation showing a stronger effect for both dimensions. In the comparison of indirect pathways, moral identity internalization demonstrated a stronger correlation with prosocial behavior than moral identity symbolization. Drawing from the social cognitive model of moral identity, this study examined the relationship between moral identity and prosocial behavior in adolescents, as well as the psychological mechanisms underlying this relationship. By examining both dimensions of moral identity and their mediating pathways to prosocial behavior, this study aimed to broaden our understanding of this relationship.