Links Between Academic Stress and Prosocial Outcomes: The Moderating Role of Maternal Support.

Abstract

The goal of the current study was to examine the links between academic stress, maternal support, and three different forms of prosocial behaviors (i.e. in-group prosocial behaviors, out-group prosocial behaviors, and civic engagement). Additionally, we also examined the interactive effect between academic stress and maternal support on prosocial behaviors. Participants were 142 young adult college students (M age = 20.82 years; range = 18-25 years; 81.7% women; 65.2% reported identifying as racially White; 9.9% Black; 7.8% Asian; 5.7% Native; and 49.3% identified their ethnicity as Latino/a). Participants reported on their academic stress levels, perceptions of their maternal support, and their tendencies to engage in the three forms of prosocial behaviors. The results (see Figure 1) demonstrated that academic stress was not associated with prosocial outcomes. Maternal support was positively associated with in-group prosocial behaviors. There was also one significant interaction that emerged. The interaction between academic stress and maternal support positively predicted civic engagement, such that when maternal support was low, academic stress was positively associated with civic engagement. The discussion focuses on the nuanced associations between these variables, with a focus on the potentially protective role of civic engagement specifically for young adults seeking social connection and belonging.