More cyber-ostracism, less prosocial behaviors? Longitudinal associations between cyber-ostracism and prosocial behaviors in Chinese adolescents

Cyber-ostracism threatens adolescents' socialization and the reverse may also matter. However, little attention has been paid to the bidirectional relationship between cyber-ostracism and prosocial behaviors in adolescents, along with the underlying mechanisms. Therefore, this study examined the longitudinal association between cyber-ostracism and prosocial behaviors, as well as the role of rumination. A total of 716 Chinese adolescents completed the questionnaires at three time points during six months. Adolescents reported on cyber-ostracism, prosocial behaviors, rumination and demographic characteristics at each time point. The random-intercept cross-lagged panel model (RI-CLPM) was carried out. Results from RI-CLPM analysis suggested that cyber-ostracism predicted adolescents' prosocial behaviors negatively across time at the within-person level. Moreover, the RI-CLPM analysis further suggested that rumination mediated the longitudinal association between cyber-ostracism and prosocial behaviors at the within-person level. Specifically, the findings suggest that cyber-ostracism contributes to increased rumination among adolescents, subsequently leading to reduced engagement in prosocial behaviors. Our findings uncover the effect of cyber-ostracism on adolescents' prosocial behaviors and the mediating role of rumination at the within-person level. Prior State of Knowledge: It has been documented that cyber-ostracism is harmful to adolescents' socialization and the reverse may also matter. However, little attention has been paid to the bidirectional relationship between cyber-ostracism and prosocial behaviors in adolescents, along with the underlying mechanisms.Novel Contributions: We aimed to examine the longitudinal association between cyber-ostracism and prosocial behaviors, as well as the role of rumination. Importantly, we adopted the random-intercept cross-lagged panel model (RI-CLPM) to reveal the associations across time at the within-person level.Practical Implications: Findings have potential implications for parents to timely know whether adolescents encounter adverse events online. Once adolescents encounter negative events online, parents should help find positive cognitive strategies together, which is crucial for the development of adolescents' prosocial behaviors.