Online prosocial behavior during adolescence in Belgium, Japan, Peru, and Spain: Cross-national and gender invariance and differences in four countries

Abstract

The role of the digital context in the development and expression of prosocial behaviors during adolescence has not yet been addressed using validated instruments in different languages. This study examines the factorial validity of the Online Prosocial Behavior Scale (OPBS) in adolescents from four different countries (Belgium N = 1714, Japan N = 1207, Peru N = 1478, Spain N = 1299) and assesses the factorial and gender invariance and differences in them. A multigroup confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) sequence was performed to test the factorial and gender invariance. The results indicate that the two-factor structure of the OPBS fits well across the full sample in each country and in the gender groups. Cross-national and gender measurement invariance were established for this instrument. Peruvian adolescents showed the highest frequency of online prosocial behaviors, both performed and received, while Japanese adolescents showed the lowest frequency. In all the countries studied, girls showed a higher frequency of online prosocial behaviors than boys. The limitations of this instrument and future lines of research in this field are discussed.