# A Longitudinal Study of Multidimensional Prosocial Behavior During Adolescence

## TL;DR

This study tracks how prosocial and rebellious behaviors change during adolescence, finding that puberty has a bigger impact than age.

## Contribution

The study reveals distinct developmental trajectories of multidimensional prosocial behaviors linked to puberty rather than chronological age.

## Key findings

- Prosocial behaviors toward friends and peers increase with pubertal maturation.
- Charitable giving and compliant behavior are more strongly explained by puberty than age.
- Public prosocial behavior decreases as adolescents age.

## Abstract

This study examines the distinct developmental trajectories of prosocial and rebellious behaviors in adolescence. Using data from an accelerated three‐wave project (2018–2022) among adolescents aged 9–22 years (N = 142, 63% female, middle‐high SES, white European descent), trajectories of prosocial actions toward friends and peers, prosocial tendencies across multiple situations, giving to charities, and general social value orientation were examined. By examining age‐, puberty‐, and hormonal‐related trajectories, the study demonstrates increases in prosocial behaviors to friends and peers, dire and compliant behavior, and charitable giving, which were more strongly explained by pubertal maturation than age. Public prosocial behavior decreased with age. The results confirm the multidimensionality of prosocial behavior, demonstrate correlations with rebelliousness, and show that prosocial behavior is context‐dependent.