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ABSTRACT Introduction Although numerous studies have reported a significant association between prosocial behavior and mental health, other studies have indicated a weak or non‐significant, and in some cases even negative link. Method To clarify these inconsistencies, the present study employed a three‐level meta‐analytic approach to examine the overall association between prosocial behavior and mental health, as well as the moderating effects of various demographic and methodological variables. Results A comprehensive literature search yielded 366 effect sizes ( N = 222,866) that were included in the meta‐analysis. The main effect revealed a significant positive correlation ( r = 0.26, p < 0.001) between prosocial behavior and mental health. Further moderator analyses indicated that this relationship was moderated by culture ( F (1, 362) = 16.16, p < 0.001), mental health indicators (i.e., positive vs. negative indicators of mental health; F (1, 364) = 60.86, p < 0.001), mental health measurement tools ( F (7, 358) = 2.52, p = 0.015), and research design (i.e., cross‐sectional vs. longitudinal studies; F (1, 364) = 21.06, p < 0.001). Conclusions Overall, the findings highlight the positive association between prosocial behavior and mental health and underscore the importance of considering prosocial behavior in efforts aimed at supporting psychological well‐being.
Li et al. (Tue,) studied this question.