Structural Model of Family Functioning and Prosocial Behaviors with the Mediating Role of Psychological Maturity

The present research was conducted to clarify the causal relationship between family functioning and prosocial behaviors with the mediating role of psychological maturity. This descriptive research was correlational. Its statistical population consisted of adults aged 18 years and older, of which 436 individuals (i.e., 349 women and 87 men) were selected as the sample using the convenience sampling method. The Prosocial Tendencies Measure revised by Carlo et al. (PTM-R), the Family Assessment Device of Epstein et al. (FAD), and the Psychological Maturity scale of Mohammadkhani et al. were utilized to collect data. Given the results of the Pearson correlation test, significant positive relationships were observed between family functioning and intrinsically motivated prosocial behaviors, between the problem-solving dimensions in family functioning and extrinsically motivated prosocial behaviors, between family functioning and psychological maturity, between the social domain of psychological maturity and prosocial behaviors in emotional and dire situations. In contrast, a negative and significant relationship was revealed between psychological maturity and extrinsically motivated prosocial behaviors. The results of structural equation modeling indicated the significant mediating role of psychological maturity in the relationship between family functioning and prosocial behaviors with intrinsic motivation. Generally, it can be said that optimal family functioning can influence the psychological maturity of its members and their growth, leading individuals to adopt prosocial behaviors with internal motivation and higher levels of moral reasoning.