The socialization of public service motivation in the home: The effect of parental PSM on the PSM of their progeny

While much is known about the consequences of PSM, comparatively little is known about the causes of PSM. Furthermore, while PSM is believed to be influenced by parents, no study has obtained measures of PSM directly from parents. This study contributes to the literature by being the first to survey both children and their parents in a study of the antecedents of PSM. Nested regression models paring over 800 parents and children suggest that parental PSM-related values have a strong association with the PSM-related values of their children. This is the first study to show the intergenerational transfer of PSM and suggests that PSM may be largely socialized via the family.