Effect of a spiritual education programme in developing altruism and prosocial behaviour among children. Issue 3 (2nd October 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Pandya, Samta P.
• Is Part Of: International journal of children's spirituality. Volume 22:Issue 3/4(2017)
• Page Start: 220
• Page End: 238
• Publication Date: 2017-10-02
• Subjects: Spirituality -- children -- altruism -- prosocial behaviour; Moral education -- Periodicals; Religious education -- Periodicals; Spirituality -- Periodicals; Children -- Religious life -- Periodicals; 155.25
• DOI: 10.1080/1364436X.2017.1369012
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1364-436X

Abstract

Abstract: This article reports on a two-year experimental study with 3278 children from schools in 15 countries, who underwent a spiritual education programme (SEP) aimed at enhancing altruism and prosocial behaviour. Results showed that post-test scores of the participant children on the self-report altruism scale and prosocial personality battery were higher than the comparison group, and their own pre-test scores. Participant children from affluent countries, high scorers on self-reported religiosity and spirituality, those who attended six-eight rounds of the SEP and regularly self-practiced, had higher post-treatment scores. Hierarchical regression models showed that self-practice was the most important post-test predictor of altruism and prosocial behaviour.