Prosocial Behaviors During Adolescence Predict Economic Outcomes in Young Adulthood

This study examines whether volunteering and charitable giving behaviors during adolescence (ages 12–17) are associated with later economically productive activity (employment, college enrollment, financial independence, income) in young adulthood (ages 18–25). Leveraging the strengths of longitudinal data from the nationally representative American Panel Study of Income Dynamics (PSID) and three supplement modules, this study addresses important research gaps, with implications for potentially reducing unequal productive activity in young adulthood. Overall, our findings revealed some positive correlations between prosocial behaviors in adolescence and productive activities in young adulthood. With few exceptions, results were similar across boys and girls, respondents from different race/ethnicity groups, and across income backgrounds.