Toddler empathy as a mediator of the association between parental responsiveness and prosocial behavior in toddlers

Abstract

While much is known about prosocial behavior in toddlers, not much is known about the underlying mechanisms that influence this development. The present study investigated the role of parental responsiveness and toddler empathy in predicting toddlers’ prosocial behavior and whether toddler empathy explains the association between parental responsiveness and prosocial behavior. Longitudinal data was used from two waves which were one year apart. In total, 98 toddlers (16-28 months) and their family and daycare teachers participated. They were followed across 2 waves which were one year apart. To measure parental responsiveness, parent reports were used. Toddler empathy was measured by parent and teacher reports. Toddlers’ prosocial behavior (sharing, empathic helping and instrumental helping) was measured with three standardized behavioral prosocial tasks. The present study found that parental responsiveness and toddler empathy did not predict toddlers’ prosocial behavior. Furthermore, toddler empathy did not explain the association between parental responsiveness and prosocial behavior, which was not expected. This could be due to some limitations of the present study. However, the present study did show an age-related increase in prosocial behaviors and added to the research on the underlying mechanisms that influence the development of prosocial behavior.