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26 - Fostering Prosociality in the Family Context

A Review of Parent- and Family-Focused Interventions Promoting Children’s Effortful Control and Prosocial Tendencies

from Part IV - Applications

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  25 May 2023

By
Qing Zhou ,
Aya Williams  and
Kaley Curtis
Edited by
Tina Malti  and
Maayan Davidov
Tina Malti
Affiliation:
University of Toronto
Maayan Davidov
Affiliation:
The Hebrew University of Jerusalem
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Summary

The critical role of effortful control (EC) in promoting prosocial development has been consistently supported in correlation studies. Yet it remains unclear whether promoting EC can be an intermediate target through which psychological interventions promote prosocial tendencies in youth. This review focuses on how to translate basic developmental research on family influences on children’s EC into family-focused interventions. First, we review key features of family socialization associated with children’s EC. Second, we conduct a qualitative review of randomized controlled studies of family-focused interventions that have examined EC as an outcome or mediator. We review key components and formats of these interventions and their efficacy in improving EC and related youth outcomes. We also review family-focused interventions for promoting children’s prosocial tendencies. In summary, our review finds some evidence for the efficacy of family-focused interventions in improving children’s EC. Limitations of existing interventions and future directions are also discussed.

Keywords

effortful controlfamily-focused interventionsprosocial tendenciesmediator
Type
Chapter
Information
The Cambridge Handbook of Prosociality
Development, Mechanisms, Promotion
 , pp. 517 - 541
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2023

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