The prosocial behaviors toward different targets scale - brief version: validation in a sample of Italian emerging adults

Emerging adulthood is a pivotal period for the development of prosocial behavior. A reliable tool for measuring prosocial behavior in emerging adults is crucial for accurate assessment and intervention planning, aiding in identity development, and promoting behaviors beneficial to personal and societal well-being. Literature suggests that prosocial behavior differs according to the target to whom such behavior is oriented. The Prosocial behaviors toward different targets scale - brief version (PB-15) assesses prosocial behavior taking into account three different targets: strangers, friends, and family members, with five items for each dimension. The current study aimed to validate the PB-15 in a sample of 304 Italian emerging adults (aged 18-25 years, Mage = 21.31 +/- 1.63; 78.3% females). Confirmatory factor analysis supported the original three-factor model. Internal consistency was good. Results showed that females had higher prosocial behavior toward friends and family than males, which might be due to heightened social pressure, females are socialized or social desirability to exhibit nurturance and compassion, whereas males are taught to inhibit such prosocial behavior. As expected, PB-15 strangers, friends, and family subscales showed significant negative correlations with a lack of emotional awareness. Overall, findings support the psychometric properties of the PB-15 as a brief diagnostic tool to assess prosocial behavior in a sample of Italian emerging adults.