The Impact of Social Anxiety on the Relationship Between Altruism and Prosocial Behavior

Publication Date

2026

College

College of Sciences & Mathematics

Department

Psychological Sciences and Neurosciences, Department of

Student Level

Undergraduate

Faculty Mentor

Dr. Abigail Heller

Presentation Type

Article

Summary

Altruism is a selfless, habitual disposition to prioritize the welfare of others, characterized by concern for others' well-being without expecting personal reward (Bhuvana et al., 2021). While there is a positive association between altruism and prosocial behavior—behavior that is done voluntarily for the benefit of others (Redondo-Pacheco, 2016)—altruistic concern does not always translate into helping behavior (Thornber & Wänström, 2018). Higher levels of social anxiety have been associated with diminished prosocial behavior (Yang et al., 2024), as social anxious individuals often experience heightened distress in social situations which leads to avoidance (McPeek & Cialdini, 1977). This study explored the role of social anxiety as a moderator of the relationship between altruism and prosocial behavior in college students. In this study, students (N = 46, Mage = 20.06) filled out a study on Qualtrics that measured social anxiety, prosocial behavior, altruism, and demographics. While there were no significant differences found, understanding social anxiety in terms of altruism and prosocial behavior provides future information for the difference in attitude and behavior.

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