Influences of Self‐Regulation, Moral Identity, and Justice Sensitivity on Prosocial Behavior in Adolescence: A 10‐Year Longitudinal Study

Self‐regulation–a multitude of competences which enable individuals to manage behavior, cognitions, and emotions in line with moral values‐may promote prosocial behavior, but longitudinal research into adolescence is sparse. Self‐regulation may also promote justice sensitivity and moral identity, which have positively been linked to prosocial behavior as well, suggesting potential mediating effects. The present study investigated how nine SR competences (e.g., inhibition, flexibility, emotion regulation, planning behavior) across middle childhood (T1–T3) relate to self‐ and parent reported prosocial behavior in adolescence (T4), and whether justice sensitivity and moral identity (T4) mediate these relations in a German sample of 1657 participants (T1: 6–10 years, 52% female; T2: 7–11 years, 52% female; T3: 9–13 years, 52% female; T4: 16–21 years, 53% female, 2% genderqueer/other). In a latent model, each SR competence was indicated by its T1–T3 measurements. T4 justice sensitivity and moral identity were included as mediators. All predicted T4 prosocial behavior while controlling for stability of prosocial behavior (T1–T3). In the total group, only altruistic sensitivity was associated with self‐ and parent‐rated T4 prosocial behavior beyond prosocial behavior stability. Results varied by sex, with additional effects of some SR competences and victim sensitivity. The findings indicate the relevance of concurrent justice sensitivity as a moral‐related trait for adolescent prosocial behavior beyond prosocial behavior stability as well as sex‐specific long‐term influences of SR competences on prosocial behavior. Interventions should target justice sensitivity and flexibility, as well as planning behavior in boys and emotion regulation in girls.