Good Begets Good: The Role of Helping Others on Engagement and Achievement Among University Students

Educational research has emphasized the importance of help-seeking in learning and engagement. However, little is known about the impact that help-giving may potentially have on student engagement and academic achievement. There is also a lack of knowledge about the environmental factors that might facilitate help-giving. This study investigated how help-giving is associated with student engagement and academic achievement by drawing on the Chinese College Student Survey (CCSS), which involved data from 67,182 Chinese college students. Structural equation modeling was used to analyze the data. Results showed that students who experienced a positive social climate, particularly those who had positive social interactions with their peers, teachers, and university staff members were more likely to help their peers with schoolwork. In turn, these students who helped their peers were more cognitively, emotionally, and behaviorally engaged. They also had higher levels of academic achievement themselves. The results applied to students of different demographic characteristics and different school types. Theoretical and practical implications of the research are discussed.