The effect of childhood maltreatment on the prosocial behavior of Chinese university students: a chain mediation analysis

The present study evaluated the effect of childhood maltreatment on the prosocial behavior of Chinese university students, with a focus on the mediation effects of social support and resilience. Prosocial behavior, resilience, social support and childhood maltreatment were measured by a total of 1266 university students in China (Mage = 18.25, SD = 0.79, 38.50% men). Results indicate significant negative correlations among childhood maltreatment and social support, resilience, prosocial behavior. Furthermore, childhood maltreatment is found to have a direct effect on prosocial behavior, as well as indirect effects through the mediating roles of social support and resilience. Even after accounting for gender and age, three pathways were identified in the linked mediation effect: the mediation function of social support, the mediation function of resilience, and the linked mediation function of social support and resilience. Together, such findings shed light on the nuanced relationship between prosocial behavior and childhood maltreatment and offer doable solutions for enhancing personal prosocial behavior.