The Influence of Social Connectedness Stimulation on Prosocial Behavior Based on Hierarchical Linear Model-Taking Universities in Guangxi, China as an Example

Abstract

The results of the study indicate that the more social support a student gets, the higher the interpersonal trust, the more harmonious interpersonal relationship, and the higher the willingness to conduct prosocial behavior. The objective of this study is to examine the sense of social connectedness (SSC) and prosocial behavior (PB) of students in Guangxi higher education institutions in China and to further understand the factors influencing PB of students in higher education. In this study, a total of 1,007 students were sampled from eight Guangxi higher vocational schools through purposive sampling using questionnaires, of which 676 (67.1%) were male students and 331 (32.9%) were female students. This study further enriches self-determination theory by exploring the effects of teachers’ character, teaching behaviors, and social support on PB, using SSC as an intrinsic motivation. In addition, the study results revealed that SSC, perceived teacher character, teaching behaviors, and perceived social support (PSS) were positively related to students’ PB. SSC affects PB not only directly but also indirectly through the mediating role of perceived teacher character teaching behavior and perceived teacher support. Teacher character, teaching behaviors, and PSS also play a chain mediating role in the relationship between SSC and PB. Finally, this study provides strategies to optimize school character management for higher education students to meet their basic psychological needs and thus promote the production of PB.