In recent years, the intricate dynamics between social support and individual behavioral outcomes have garnered significant attention within psychological research. The latest study conducted by Lin, Wang, and Liu, published in the 2025 edition of BMC Psychology, delivers groundbreaking insights into how perceived social support cascades into prosocial behaviors, mediated sequentially by a person’s sense of gain and the complex emotional state known as gratitude. This research not only fills essential gaps in understanding the psychological mechanisms underlying positive social behavior but also opens new avenues for psychological interventions aimed at fostering community cohesion and altruistic conduct.
At its core, the study tackles a question central to social psychology: how does an individual’s subjective experience of being supported by others enhance their proclivity to act in ways that benefit others? While it is well recognized that social support positively affects mental health and well-being, the pathways through which this support translates to outward prosocial actions have remained less clear. Lin and colleagues propose a serial mediation model where perceived social support enhances an individual’s sense of gain—a psychological construct reflecting a subjective appraisal of benefits received—which in turn cultivates feelings of gratitude, ultimately promoting prosocial behavior.
To dissect this relationship, the authors utilized robust statistical methods and data gathered from a diverse cohort, ensuring the findings are both reliable and generalizable. Their application of structural equation modeling permitted the examination of complex, multi-step mediation effects, allowing researchers to ascertain not only whether the effects exist but also how they unfold temporally and psychologically. These methodological choices demonstrate a sophisticated approach that transcends traditional correlational studies, providing strong evidence of causality.
One of the pivotal contributions of this research lies in the operationalization and empirical validation of the “sense of gain.” This construct, although frequently alluded to in psychological and sociological discourse, has lacked rigorous quantification in empirical studies. By defining sense of gain as the subjective feeling of benefit accrued through interpersonal exchanges, the authors shed light on how internal appraisal mechanisms serve as catalysts for emotional responses such as gratitude. This conceptual clarity sets the groundwork for future investigations aiming to modulate these psychological factors in therapeutic settings.
Gratitude, a well-documented emotion linked to positive social outcomes, is illuminated here with new nuance. Rather than being a simple direct result of receiving help or support, gratitude is framed as a mediated experience contingent upon a preceding sense of gain. This insight challenges prior models that often positioned gratitude as an immediate emotional reaction, suggesting instead a more deliberative cognitive-emotional processing sequence. Such a perspective enriches the theoretical understanding of gratitude, situating it within a broader psychological ecosystem involving perception, evaluation, and emotional response.
Furthermore, the study highlights the importance of recognizing prosocial behavior as an endpoint shaped by internal psychological states that, in turn, are influenced by external social environments. This perspective emphasizes the bidirectional interplay between societal structures and individual psychology. The findings imply that social support systems, whether family, community networks, or institutional programs, can foster a psychological milieu conducive to widespread altruism and cooperative behavior if they effectively enhance individuals’ sense of gain and gratitude.
Delving into the practical implications, the authors posit that interventions designed to strengthen perceived social support may be more effective if they also target individuals’ sense of gain and capacity for gratitude. For instance, community programs could integrate components that encourage reflective appreciation of received benefits and promote recognition of support not just as a functional resource but as an emotionally meaningful experience. This approach has potential applications in educational environments, workplaces, and mental health initiatives.
The methodological rigor of the study is further evidenced by the authors’ attention to demographic variables and the control of potential confounding factors. By including a representative sample with diverse sociodemographic backgrounds, the research accounts for variability in social support experiences and acknowledges cultural nuances influencing the perception of gain and gratitude. This inclusivity lends greater confidence in the universality of the proposed model, although the authors prudently call for cross-cultural replicative studies to verify the applicability across different societies.
Moreover, the longitudinal design adopted allows for temporal ordering assessment, providing compelling support that perceived social support precedes and predicts changes in psychological mediators and subsequent prosocial behavior. This temporal clarity is crucial for designing interventions, as it suggests that enhancing social support can initiate a cascade of positive psychological and behavioral transformations over time, reinforcing the value of fostering social connectivity in public health and social policy.
Notably, the article also discusses limitations, offering a transparent account of potential measurement biases and the challenges inherent in self-reported data on complex internal states. The authors advocate for complementary research utilizing neuropsychological and physiological measures to triangulate these self-reports and to unravel the neurobiological underpinnings of the observed psychological processes, heralding a multidimensional approach to understanding human prosociality.
The theoretical advances presented have broad relevance beyond psychology, intersecting with fields such as behavioral economics, social work, and organizational studies, where understanding human motivation in the context of social capital is pivotal. The clarified pathways linking social support, sense of gain, gratitude, and prosociality could inform models of consumer behavior, workplace productivity, and community development, demonstrating the interdisciplinary impact of these findings.
Another exciting facet of the study concerns the role of gratitude as a modifiable emotional state that might be harnessed through targeted training or therapeutic techniques. This opens possibilities for designing gratitude interventions with the express goal of not only improving individual well-being but also enhancing societal outcomes by promoting cooperative and supportive behaviors that benefit groups at large.
The study’s publication in a high-impact open-access journal ensures maximal visibility and accessibility among global researchers and practitioners, potentially accelerating the translation of these insights into practical applications. Its publication year, 2025, situates it at the forefront of contemporary psychological scholarship, reflecting the latest strides in methodological innovation and theoretical synthesis.
In sum, the research by Lin, Wang, and Liu represents a significant step forward in unpacking the psychological architecture that propels prosocial behavior. By articulating and empirically validating the serial mediating effects of sense of gain and gratitude between perceived social support and altruistic actions, this study not only enriches fundamental psychological theory but also offers tangible pathways for cultivating more compassionate, interconnected societies.
As societies worldwide grapple with social fragmentation and individual alienation, understanding how social bonds translate into constructive behaviors is more critical than ever. This research underscores the transformative potential of perceived social support, not merely as a buffer against adversity but as a dynamic force that, through cultivated psychological states, activates behaviors that sustain and enhance communal welfare.
Looking forward, further research should explore how technological platforms mediating social interactions impact these psychological processes, particularly in an era increasingly dominated by virtual connectivity. Investigating whether digital expressions of social support elicit comparable sense of gain and gratitude—and thus prosocial behaviors—could have profound implications for designing online social architectures.
Finally, applying these insights in practical settings—from educational curricula that foster gratitude awareness to organizational policies that enhance employee support networks—may redefine strategies for social intervention, positioning psychological well-being and prosociality as dual pillars in building resilient, thriving communities.
Subject of Research: Psychological mechanisms linking perceived social support to prosocial behavior via sense of gain and gratitude.
Article Title: From perceived social support to prosocial behavior: the serial mediating role of sense of gain and gratitude.
Article References:
Lin, J., Wang, T.Y. & Liu, H. From perceived social support to prosocial behavior: the serial mediating role of sense of gain and gratitude. BMC Psychol 13, 894 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-025-03082-4
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