Older adults across the globe exhibit increased prosocial behavior but also greater in-group preferences.

ABSTRACT: Population aging is a global phenomenon with substantial implications across society^1,2. Prosocial behaviors-actions that benefit others-promote mental and physical health across the lifespan^3,4 and can save lives during the COVID-19 pandemic. We examined whether age predicts prosociality in a preregistered global study (46,576 people aged 18-99 across 67 countries) using two acutely relevant measures: distancing during COVID-19 and willingness to donate to hypothetical charities. Age positively predicted prosociality on both measures, with increased distancing and donations among older adults. However, older adults were more in-group focused than younger adults in choosing who to help, making larger donations to national over international charities and reporting inc

SUBMITTER: Cutler J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10154238 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature