Meta-analysis of the Relationship between Prosocial Behavior and Subjective Well-being: The Mediating Role of Basic Psychological Needs

To clarify the relationship between prosocial behavior and subjective well-being, this study conducted a meta-analysis using a random-effects model on 51 included studies. The results show that prosocial behavior is moderately positively correlated with subjective well-being and its dimensional indicators of life satisfaction and positive emotion, and is weakly negatively correlated with the dimensional indicator of negative emotion. Cultural background moderates the relationship between prosocial behavior and subjective well-being, with the relationship being stronger in contexts with lower individualistic tendencies. Basic psychological needs mediate the relationship between the two. This study provides evidence to support interventions aimed at enhancing prosocial awareness to improve individual well-being.