Promoting Adolescent Well-Being through Moral Emotions: A Multi-Method Examination of the Role of Moral Elevation and Prosocial Behavior in Life Satisfaction

Promoting Adolescent Well-Being through Moral Emotions: A Multi-Method Examination of the Role of Moral Elevation and Prosocial Behavior in Life Satisfaction | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Research Article Promoting Adolescent Well-Being through Moral Emotions: A Multi-Method Examination of the Role of Moral Elevation and Prosocial Behavior in Life Satisfaction Junqing Li, Youwei Yan, Evangelina Zhang This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-6694318/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Posted Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract Moral elevation, a positively valenced emotion elicited by witnessing virtuous acts, has been increasingly recognized as a catalyst for moral motivation and personal well-being. Drawing upon the Broaden-and-Build Theory and Self-Determination Theory, this research explores how moral elevation contributes to adolescent life satisfaction, both directly and through the mediating role of prosocial behavior. Three studies were conducted to test five hypotheses. Study 1 employed a two-wave longitudinal design among 920 adolescents, revealing that moral elevation positively predicted life satisfaction and that prosocial behavior partially mediated this relationship. Study 2 used Necessary Condition Analysis (NCA) to identify whether moral elevation and prosocial behavior are not only predictive but necessary conditions for high life satisfaction. Results showed that both variables constituted critical psychological thresholds: moral elevation was a large-level necessary condition, while prosocial behavior was of medium-level necessity. Study 3 implemented an 8-week randomized controlled trial, confirming that moral elevation interventions significantly improved life satisfaction. Together, these findings offer robust empirical support for the psychological centrality of moral emotions and social engagement in promoting adolescent well-being. Theoretical implications for positive psychology and practical guidance for school-based interventions are discussed. Trial registration: International Standard Randomised Controlled Trial Number (ISRCTN) registry, ISRCTN14856201. Registered on 24 September 2024. Moral elevation Life satisfaction Prosocial behavior Necessary condition analysis Intervention study Longitudinal study Figures Figure 1 Figure 2 1 Moral Elevation and Life Satisfaction Moral elevation, a positively valenced emotion elicited by witnessing acts of moral virtue such as altruism, compassion, or bravery, has been increasingly recognized as a crucial factor in enhancing individual well-being [ 1 ]. Unlike other moral emotions such as guilt or shame, which serve to inhibit immoral conduct, moral elevation inspires individuals to engage in morally exemplary behaviors, often accompanied by physiological sensations of warmth, feelings of admiration, and a desire for self-improvement [ 2 ]. The experience of moral elevation has been conceptualized as an emotion that not only strengthens individual moral motivation but also facilitates psychosocial benefits that contribute to life satisfaction. From a psychological perspective, the link between moral elevation and life satisfaction can be explained through Fredrickson's (2001) Broaden-and-Build Theory [ 3 ]. According to this theory, positive emotions such as moral elevation broaden individuals' thought-action repertoires, leading to greater flexibility, creativity, and social connection. Over time, these expanded cognitive and behavioral patterns help to build enduring personal resources, including psychological resilience, interpersonal relationships, and coping mechanisms, which are all foundational to life satisfaction. For example, witnessing altruistic acts may inspire individuals to see the world as a more benevolent place, increasing optimism and trust in others, both of which are closely related to subjective well-being. Empirical evidence further substantiates the positive association between moral elevation and life satisfaction. Čehajić-Clancy et al. (2024) demonstrated that exposure to narratives of moral exemplars enhanced intergroup attitudes and social cohesion, both of which contribute to individual well-being [ 4 ]. Similarly, Shulman et al. (2021) showed that moral elevation increased support for humanitarian actions and facilitated intergroup empathy, indicating its potential to transform both personal and societal emotional climates [ 5 ]. These findings suggest that moral elevation may serve as a motivational and emotional resource that reinforces both prosocial engagement and a general sense of fulfillment. Moreover, recent intervention-based studies have found that moral elevation can be deliberately induced through various stimuli such as videos, written narratives, or reflections on virtuous acts [ 6 ]. These interventions have been shown to lead to sustained improvements in mood, a heightened sense of purpose, and ultimately, increased life satisfaction. The underlying mechanism is believed to involve both immediate affective uplift and longer-term reinforcement of prosocial goals, which fulfill basic psychological needs for relatedness and meaning [ 7 ]. In sum, moral elevation has emerged as a significant emotional experience with the capacity to enhance life satisfaction by promoting positive affect, moral engagement, and social connection. However, despite growing evidence of its benefits, most existing research relies on cross-sectional or experimental data, leaving questions about its longitudinal impact unresolved. More critically, whether moral elevation constitutes a necessary psychological precondition for achieving high life satisfaction remains unexplored. This underscores the need for integrative research approaches that combine longitudinal designs with causal inference techniques. 2 The Mediation Role of Prosocial Behavior Prosocial behavior, encompassing voluntary actions aimed at benefiting others such as helping, sharing, or comforting, is well-documented as a robust predictor of psychological well-being and life satisfaction [ 8 ][ 9 ]. Importantly, prosocial behavior is not only an outcome of moral motivation but also a pathway through which moral emotions such as elevation exert their influence. Previous studies suggest that witnessing virtuous acts evokes moral elevation, which subsequently increases individuals' likelihood of engaging in prosocial behavior [ 1 ][ 10 ]. This chain of events forms a psychological sequence that may ultimately lead to enhanced life satisfaction. Moral elevation has been found to trigger a motivational state conducive to prosocial behavior, including heightened empathy, generosity, and a willingness to help strangers [ 11 ][ 12 ]. From an emotion-based perspective, elevation provides the affective impetus for moral action by enhancing perceptions of moral ideals and reinforcing one’s moral identity [ 13 ]. In this context, moral elevation functions as a mediating emotional experience that translates the perception of moral virtue into actual prosocial conduct. Once enacted, prosocial behavior contributes to life satisfaction by fulfilling key psychological needs outlined in Self-Determination Theory [ 7 ], particularly the needs for relatedness and competence. Engaging in altruistic acts enhances social connection and fosters a sense of purpose, both of which are central to subjective well-being [ 9 ][ 14 ]. Moreover, helping others has been shown to reduce psychological distress, mitigate loneliness, and improve mood, thereby serving as an effective mechanism for sustaining life satisfaction during adverse circumstances, such as the COVID-19 pandemic [ 15 ]. Despite the empirical support for this mediation model, few studies have examined the sequential relationship among moral elevation, prosocial behavior, and life satisfaction within a unified analytical framework. Ding et al. (2018) and Rullo et al. (2022) proposed that prosocial behavior mediates the relationship between moral motivations and well-being outcomes, but these models have rarely been tested using longitudinal or causal methods [ 10 ][ 16 ]. Furthermore, much of the existing literature relies on correlational data, limiting the ability to draw robust causal inferences. 3 The Present Study The present research comprises three studies designed to elucidate the psychological mechanisms through which moral elevation influences life satisfaction, with a specific focus on the role of prosocial behavior. In Study 1, we employed a longitudinal design to examine the temporal associations among moral elevation, prosocial behavior, and life satisfaction in a sample of adolescents. This study tests two primary hypotheses: Hypothesis 1 Moral elevation will be positively related to life satisfaction. Hypothesis 2 Prosocial behavior will mediate the relationship between moral elevation and life satisfaction. To extend these findings and examine whether moral elevation and prosocial behavior are not merely predictors but also prerequisites for high life satisfaction, Study 2 applied Necessary Condition Analysis (NCA). NCA is a methodology capable of identifying necessary but not sufficient conditions for an outcome to occur [ 17 ]. From the perspective of NCA, we proposed two hypotheses: Hypothesis 3 Moral elevation will be a necessary condition for life satisfaction. Hypothesis 4 Prosocial behavior will be a necessary condition for life satisfaction. Finally, Study 3 implemented an experimental design to assess whether a structured moral elevation intervention can causally enhance life satisfaction among adolescents. Participants were exposed to narratives and multimedia content depicting morally elevating events over a four-week period. The aim was to evaluate the causal impact of moral elevation on well-being and to test the following hypothesis: Hypothesis 5 Engaging in a moral elevation intervention will increase life satisfaction. Collectively, these three studies offer a comprehensive investigation into the motivational, emotional, and behavioral pathways linking moral elevation to life satisfaction. By integrating longitudinal data, necessary condition analysis, and experimental manipulation, this research provides a robust empirical foundation for understanding how moral emotions can be harnessed to promote adolescent well-being. 4 Method Participants Study 1 and Study 2 involved a longitudinal cohort of 1,200 adolescents aged 12 to 16 years, recruited from two public secondary schools in China. Data collection occurred between October and December 2024. The baseline survey (Wave 1) was administered during the fifth week of the academic semester, with a follow-up assessment (Wave 2) conducted three months later. To enhance data quality, two attention check items (e.g., “I am a human being”) were embedded in the questionnaire. Participants who failed these checks by selecting implausible responses (e.g., “disagree” or “strongly disagree”) were excluded from further analyses. After this quality control procedure, 1,096 valid responses were retained at Wave 1. At the three-month follow-up, 920 participants provided valid responses at both time points (Mage = 13.68, SDage = 0.96). Study 3 employed a randomized controlled trial (RCT) design to examine the causal effect of a moral elevation intervention on life satisfaction. A total of 92 adolescents aged 16 to 18 years (Mage = 16.93, SDage = 0.89) were recruited from a private high school in the UK. The sample size exceeded the minimum requirement recommended by G*Power for detecting medium-sized effects. Data collection occurred from October to November 2024. Participants were randomly assigned to either an experimental group or a control group. Baseline equivalence between the groups was confirmed across demographic (e.g., gender, age) and psychological variables (e.g., moral elevation, life satisfaction). The intervention group received an 8-week moral elevation training program, while the control group received no treatment during the same period. All procedures were reviewed and approved by the Institutional Review Board of St. Mary’s College (STERC2023930-04). The research adhered to the ethical principles outlined in the Declaration of Helsinki. Informed consent was obtained digitally from all participants and their legal guardians via a secure online platform. The consent form clearly described the study’s aims, procedures, potential risks and benefits, rights to voluntary participation and withdrawal, and measures for ensuring data confidentiality. Special emphasis was placed on participants’ autonomy and data protection before the commencement of any study activities. Measures Moral elevation was assessed using the 21-item Moral Elevation Scale developed by Ding et al. (2014) [ 18 ], which demonstrated excellent internal consistency in the current study (Cronbach’s α = .94). Sample items include statements such as “When virtuous actions are clear in my mind, I feel excited,” which reflect emotional and motivational responses to witnessing moral beauty. Life satisfaction was measured using the 5-item Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS; Diener et al., 1985), a widely validated instrument for assessing global cognitive judgments of one’s life. In this study [ 19 ], the scale demonstrated acceptable reliability (α = .77). A representative item includes, “In most ways my life is close to my ideal.” Prosocial behavior was evaluated using the 15-item Prosocial Behavior Scale for Adolescents developed by Yang et al. (2016), which assesses various forms of socially constructive behavior [ 20 ]. The scale showed excellent internal consistency in this study (α = .90). Sample items include statements such as “I pay attention to maintaining order in public places.” All three scales utilized a 7-point Likert response format ranging from 1 (strongly disagree) to 7 (strongly agree), with higher scores indicating greater levels of the corresponding construct. In addition to the psychological measures, participants also reported demographic information including gender, age, and educational status. For Study 3, the moral elevation intervention was implemented through eight structured, offline sessions delivered over the course of one month. The intervention was adapted from protocols used in prior experimental research (e.g., McGuire et al., 2023) and included components designed to elicit moral elevation, such as viewing video clips depicting virtuous acts, engaging in reflective writing, and setting personal goals related to moral action [ 6 ]. Data Analysis All statistical analyses were conducted using R software (version 4.4.2). In Study 1, descriptive statistics and Pearson product-moment correlations were first computed to examine associations among key study variables. To test the hypothesized relationships among moral elevation, prosocial behavior, and life satisfaction, structural equation modeling (SEM) was conducted. Study 2 employed necessary condition analysis (NCA) to identify whether moral elevation and prosocial behavior served as necessary but not sufficient conditions for achieving high levels of life satisfaction. The bottleneck analysis and effect size metrics (e.g., d scores) were used to interpret the practical significance of the necessary conditions. In Study 3, differences between the experimental group and control group were analyzed using independent samples t-tests to compare group means at post-test. Additionally, paired samples t-tests were conducted within each group to examine pre-post changes in moral elevation and life satisfaction. Effect sizes were calculated using Cohen’s d to estimate the magnitude of intervention effects. Statistical significance was evaluated at the conventional α = .05 level. 5 Result Descriptive Statistical Results Table 1 presents the means, standard deviations, and Pearson correlation coefficients among the key study variables: moral elevation at Time 1 (T1), prosocial behavior at Time 2 (T2), and life satisfaction at Time 2 (T2). The results revealed statistically significant and positive associations between moral elevation (T1) and prosocial behavior (T2) ( r = .674, p < .01), moral elevation (T1) and life satisfaction (T2) ( r = .395, p < .01), as well as prosocial behavior (T2) and life satisfaction (T2) ( r = .493, p < .01). These findings support Hypothesis 1 , which posits that higher levels of moral elevation are positively associated with greater life satisfaction. Moreover, the strong correlation between moral elevation and prosocial behavior provides a theoretical basis for testing mediation effects in subsequent analyses. The descriptive statistics show that participants reported moderate to high levels of moral elevation ( M = 4.219, SD = 0.625), high levels of prosocial behavior ( M = 5.518, SD = 1.007), and moderate levels of life satisfaction ( M = 4.285, SD = 1.327). These patterns are consistent with expectations for early adolescents in school settings and indicate sufficient variability for further modeling. Table 1 Descriptive Statistics of the Key Variables Variables Moral elevation T1 Prosocial behavior T2 Life Satisfaction T2 Moral elevation T1 1 Prosocial behavior T2 .674 ** 1 Life Satisfaction T2 .395 ** .493 ** 1 Mean (± SD) 4.219 (± .625) 5.518 (± 1.007) 4.285 (± 1.327) Note. N = 920. ** p < .01. Test for Mediating Effect To examine the mediating role of prosocial behavior in the relationship between moral elevation and life satisfaction, a bootstrapping procedure with 5,000 resamples was conducted. This nonparametric approach provides a robust estimation of indirect effects and their confidence intervals (CIs), thereby reducing Type I error and enhancing the validity of mediation inferences. As presented in Table 2 , the indirect effect of moral elevation on life satisfaction through prosocial behavior was statistically significant (β = .594, Boot SE = .063), with a 95% confidence interval (CI) that did not include zero (CI [.472, .717]). The direct effect of moral elevation on life satisfaction remained significant (β = .243, Boot SE = .082, CI [.085, .409]), suggesting partial mediation. The total effect of moral elevation on life satisfaction was also significant (β = .838, Boot SE = .060, CI [.717, .954]). Notably, the indirect pathway accounted for approximately 70.9% of the total effect, indicating that prosocial behavior serves as a substantial mediating mechanism in the link between moral elevation and life satisfaction. These results provide strong empirical support for Hypothesis 2 , which posited that prosocial behavior mediates the relationship between moral elevation and life satisfaction. Table 2 Bootstrapping Analysis of the Mediating Effect Path Coefficient Boot SE Boot 95% CI LL UL Indirect effect: Moral elevation → Prosocial behavior → Life satisfaction .594 .063 .472 .717 Direct effect: Moral elevation → Life satisfaction .243 .082 .085 .409 Total effect .838 .060 .717 .954 Note. SE = standard error; LL = lower limit; UL = upper limit; CI = confidence intervals. Test for Necessary Condition Analysis To further explore the role of moral elevation and prosocial behavior in predicting life satisfaction, the present study employed NCA, a technique particularly suited to uncovering asymmetric relationships—specifically, whether certain antecedent variables are necessary but not sufficient conditions for a desired outcome [ 17 ]. Unlike correlational or regression-based approaches that estimate average tendencies across a population, NCA focuses on boundary conditions: whether the presence of a specific level of a predictor is required to make the outcome possible. Initial visual inspection of the bivariate scatterplots revealed distinct blank zones in the upper-left quadrants of both plots (Figs. 1 and 2 ). According to NCA theory, these zones represent “ceiling lines” beyond which high levels of the outcome (life satisfaction) are not observed unless accompanied by a minimum threshold of the predictor variable. Specifically, the absence of data points in the upper-left area implies that participants with low levels of moral elevation or prosocial behavior do not attain high life satisfaction. This visual evidence suggests that both variables may serve as necessary but not sufficient precursors to enhanced well-being. To formally evaluate this pattern, two ceiling analysis techniques were implemented: Ceiling Envelopment with Free Disposal Hull (CE-FDH) and Ceiling Regression with Free Disposal Hull (CR-FDH). The CE-FDH method identifies the minimum levels of an antecedent variable needed for a given outcome, while CR-FDH provides a more nuanced regression-based estimate and allows for the calculation of effect sizes, a key indicator of the practical significance of a necessary condition. As reported in Table 3 , the CR-FDH method yielded an effect size of 0.310 for moral elevation and 0.213 for prosocial behavior. According to the criteria proposed by Dul (2016), an effect size between 0.1 and 0.3 indicates a medium-level necessary condition, while an effect size between 0.3 and 0.5 denotes a large-level condition [ 17 ]. Thus, moral elevation was found to be a large necessary condition, and prosocial behavior a medium necessary condition for achieving high levels of life satisfaction. These findings indicate that although both variables do not guarantee high life satisfaction on their own, their absence effectively precludes it, thereby reinforcing Hypotheses 3 and 4. Table 3 Necessity Analysis Results Variable Technique Accuracy Ceiling Zone Scope Effect Size (d) Condition Inefficiency Outcome Inefficiency Moral elevation CE-FDH 100% 7.981 24 0.333 b 25.000 0 CR-FDH 99.6% 7.441 24 0.310 b 33.907 6.180 Prosocial behavior CE-FDH 100% 9.527 36 0.265 a 41.667 6.667 CR-FDH 99.9% 7.652 36 0.213 a 48.934 16.757 Note: CE-FDH = ceiling envelopment with free disposal hull; CR-FDH = ceiling regression with free disposal hull; a 0.1 < d < 0.3: medium level; b 0.3 < d < 0.5: large level. In addition to the single-variable analysis, a bottleneck analysis was performed to investigate the combined necessity of moral elevation and prosocial behavior across varying levels of life satisfaction. Bottleneck tables, such as Table 4 , present the minimum required values of each necessary condition to achieve a specified percentage level of the outcome variable, thus offering a more granular understanding of their joint constraints.. Table 4 Bottleneck Table for Necessary Condition Combination Analysis (CR-FDH) Life satisfaction (%) Moral elevation (%) Prosocial behavior (%) 0 NN NN 10 2.7 NN 20 9.7 2.0 30 16.8 8.1 40 23.8 14.3 50 30.9 20.4 60 37.9 26.5 70 45.0 32.7 80 52.0 38.8 90 59.0 44.9 100 66.1 51.1 Note: NN = Not Necessary The bottleneck table reveals several noteworthy trends. At lower levels of life satisfaction (e.g., 0–20%), only minimal levels of moral elevation are required, and prosocial behavior is largely non-essential. However, as life satisfaction increases to moderate levels (30–60%), the necessity thresholds for both variables rise steadily, indicating a dual necessity dynamic. For example, achieving a 50% life satisfaction score requires at least 30.9% of the maximum observed value of moral elevation and 20.4% of prosocial behavior. At higher satisfaction levels (70–100%), this pattern becomes more pronounced, with the requirements reaching 66.1% for moral elevation and 51.1% for prosocial behavior to support full life satisfaction. These results highlight a synergistic interaction between the two psychological resources. Neither high life satisfaction nor emotional flourishing can be attained without the co-presence of both elevated moral cognition and social engagement. The findings imply that interventions aimed at enhancing adolescent well-being should concurrently target the development of moral sensitivity and prosocial action tendencies to maximize their impact. Taken together, the NCA results provide compelling evidence that moral elevation and prosocial behavior are not merely correlates of life satisfaction, but rather serve as foundational psychological conditions that must be sufficiently present to enable higher levels of well-being. This underscores their theoretical and practical importance in designing positive psychology interventions, especially for adolescents navigating identity formation and moral development. Results of the Experiment To evaluate the efficacy of the moral elevation intervention, both between-group and within-group comparisons were conducted using independent and paired samples t-tests. Prior to the intervention, baseline equivalence between the experimental and control groups was assessed. No significant differences were found in either moral elevation (t(90) = − 1.87, p = .065) or life satisfaction (t(90) = 0.18, p = .855), indicating that the two groups were statistically comparable at pre-test. This baseline homogeneity satisfied the essential assumption for a valid evaluation of the treatment effect and strengthened the internal validity of the subsequent comparisons. Following the 8-week intervention, independent samples t-tests revealed statistically significant group differences in both outcome variables. Participants in the experimental group reported higher levels of moral elevation (t(90) = − 2.70, p < .05) and greater life satisfaction (t(90) = − 2.32, p < .05) than their counterparts in the control group. These results suggest that exposure to the moral elevation training produced positive effects on participants' moral emotions and subjective well-being, thereby demonstrating the between-group effectiveness of the intervention. To further examine within-group changes, paired samples t-tests were conducted comparing pre-test and post-test scores. Among participants in the experimental group, there was a significant increase in life satisfaction from pre-test to post-test (t(45) = − 2.32, p < .05), indicating that the intervention yielded measurable improvements over time. In contrast, no significant changes were observed within the control group (t(45) = − 0.23, p = .817), further confirming the specific impact of the intervention rather than maturation or external influences. These within-group results provide additional empirical support for Hypothesis 5 , which posited that moral elevation interventions would enhance life satisfaction among adolescents. Collectively, the findings from both the between- and within-group analyses underscore the effectiveness of the moral elevation intervention in promoting adolescents’ moral emotional responses and psychological well-being. These results align with prior literature suggesting that interventions targeting moral cognition and prosocial emotions can serve as effective strategies for improving youth life outcomes. Discussion The current study contributes to the growing literature on moral elevation by demonstrating its predictive and causal roles in enhancing life satisfaction and promoting prosocial behavior. Through a triangulated methodological approach involving longitudinal analysis, necessary condition analysis, and experimental intervention, our findings provide robust evidence that moral elevation is not merely a positive emotional response, but also a psychologically potent mechanism that fosters well-being. Furthermore, this study affirms the mediating role of prosocial behavior in the moral elevation-life satisfaction nexus, echoing theoretical perspectives from positive psychology and moral emotion research [ 1 ][ 3 ]. Our findings align with and extend previous research indicating that moral elevation, elicited by witnessing acts of moral virtue, fosters a desire to emulate such behavior and enhances one’s sense of purpose and meaning [ 2 ][ 13 ]. In our longitudinal study (Study 1), we confirmed that adolescents who experienced higher levels of moral elevation reported significantly greater life satisfaction over time, supporting the Broaden-and-Build Theory of Positive Emotions [ 3 ]. This finding is also consistent with Čehajić-Clancy et al. (2024), who reported that moral elevation in intergroup conflict contexts increased approach-oriented attitudes, suggesting that elevation can extend its influence beyond interpersonal to societal well-being [ 4 ]. The mediating role of prosocial behavior observed in our model underscores the critical pathway by which moral elevation fosters well-being. Ding et al. (2018) demonstrated that moral elevation bridges the gap between moral cognition and behavior by transforming abstract moral thoughts into concrete prosocial actions [ 10 ]. Our results reinforce this view, suggesting that moral elevation evokes moral emotions that energize helping behaviors, which in turn contribute to greater life satisfaction. This mediation effect is theoretically grounded in Self-Determination Theory, where prosocial actions fulfill fundamental psychological needs, such as relatedness and competence, thereby enhancing subjective well-being [ 7 ]. Moreover, the NCA (Study 2) provides novel insights into the essentiality of moral elevation and prosocial behavior for achieving high levels of life satisfaction. This analysis moves beyond correlational and mediation models to highlight that certain levels of moral elevation and prosocial behavior are not just facilitators but prerequisites for high life satisfaction. This finding adds a new dimension to existing literature by positioning moral elevation as a necessary emotional antecedent in the architecture of well-being, consistent with Dul's (2016) framework for identifying bottleneck conditions in psychological phenomena [ 17 ]. The efficacy of our experimental intervention (Study 3) further corroborates the causal role of moral elevation. Adolescents exposed to narratives and videos depicting moral excellence demonstrated significant increases in both moral elevation and life satisfaction. These results replicate and extend earlier work by McGuire et al. (2023), who found that repeated exposure to moral elevation stimuli can lead to cumulative benefits in mood and meaning [ 6 ]. The current findings affirm that elevation-based interventions can be a practical tool for promoting adolescent well-being, particularly in school-based contexts. These conclusions are also supported by Shulman et al. (2021), who found that moral elevation enhances support for humanitarian actions even in the context of intractable conflict [ 5 ]. They argue that the unique positivity of elevation, unlike guilt or shame, enables sustained moral motivation without the emotional costs associated with other moral emotions. Additionally, Čehajić-Clancy et al. (2024) demonstrated that exposure to morally uplifting out-group behavior improved inter-group relations and increased approach tendencies [ 4 ]. These results emphasize the broader social utility of elevation beyond individual-level outcomes. Notably, our findings reinforce the proposition that moral elevation can be intentionally cultivated through structured interventions. This supports the practical implications proposed by Ding et al. (2018) and Espinosa et al. (2022), who advocate for prosocial engagement as a vehicle for enhancing life satisfaction [ 9 ][ 10 ]. Particularly during crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic, prosocial behavior has been found to mitigate negative emotional states and enhance overall well-being [ 9 ][ 15 ]. Furthermore, gender and cultural factors may moderate the efficacy of elevation-based interventions. Ding et al. (2018) noted that women tend to experience stronger emotional reactions to moral stimuli, suggesting that tailored interventions may be more effective [ 10 ]. Additionally, the collectivist orientation in Chinese cultural contexts may amplify the effects of moral elevation by reinforcing interdependent values and community engagement [ 21 ]. In summary, the current research provides compelling evidence that moral elevation plays a pivotal role in shaping prosocial behavior and enhancing life satisfaction. By integrating diverse methodological approaches, our findings not only validate the theoretical claims of moral elevation literature but also offer practical pathways for psychological intervention. The results underscore the value of cultivating moral emotions and prosocial orientations in adolescence as a means to promote flourishing across individual and societal domains. Limitations Despite the theoretical and practical contributions of this study, several limitations warrant attention. First, the study relied exclusively on self-report instruments to assess moral elevation, prosocial behavior, and life satisfaction. Although validated scales were used, such measures are susceptible to response biases such as social desirability and self-enhancement. Future studies should incorporate behavioral indicators or physiological measures (e.g., heart rate variability, neural activity) to triangulate findings and capture real-time emotional and behavioral responses to moral elevation. Second, the sample consisted primarily of Chinese adolescents, which may limit the generalizability of the findings across cultures, age groups, and socioeconomic backgrounds. Moral values and prosocial norms are culturally bound, and elevation-based interventions may operate differently in collectivist versus individualist societies. Subsequent research should employ cross-cultural comparative designs to test the universality or cultural specificity of these effects. Third, although Study 1 utilized a longitudinal design and Study 3 adopted experimental manipulation, causality could still be further substantiated through ecological momentary assessment (EMA) or daily diary studies, which better capture dynamic emotional experiences in naturalistic settings. Additionally, the necessary condition analysis, while illuminating, assumes a deterministic logic that may overlook probabilistic relationships. Complementary use of structural equation modeling or multilevel modeling may offer richer insights. 6. Conclusion Moral elevation was found to be positively associated with life satisfaction; (2) Prosocial behavior significantly mediated the relationship between moral elevation and life satisfaction; (3) Moral elevation was a necessary condition for life satisfaction; (4) Prosocial behavior was a necessary condition for life satisfaction; (5) Moral elevation intervention can increase life satisfaction among adolescents. Declarations Ethics approval and consent to participate All procedures were approved by the Institutional Review Board of St. Mary’s College (STERC2023930-04) and complied with the Declaration of Helsinki. Informed digital consent was obtained from all participants and their legal guardians. The consent form detailed the study’s purpose, procedures, risks, benefits, voluntary participation, and data confidentiality, with emphasis on autonomy and data protection. Author Contribution J.Q.L. was involved in the study design, data collection, and manuscript writing.Y.W.Y. contributed to data analysis, interpretation, and manuscript revision.E.Z. contributed to data analysis, supervised the project and provided critical revisions.All authors read and approved the final manuscript. Acknowledgement We would like to grateful all participants who agreed to participate in this study. Data Availability The data that support the study may be available upon request with permission from the researchers who collected the data. References Haidt J. (2003). Elevation and the positive psychology of morality. In C. L. M. Keyes & J. Haidt, editors, Flourishing: Positive psychology and the life well-lived (pp. 275–289). American Psychological Association. https://doi.org/10.1037/10594-012 Algoe SB, Haidt J. Witnessing excellence in action: The other-praising emotions of elevation, gratitude, and admiration. 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J Posit Psychol. 2021;17(6):790–801. https://doi.org/10.1080/17439760.2021.1940250 . Chong YY, Chien WT, Cheng HY, Kassianos AP, Gloster AT, Karekla M. Can psychological flexibility and prosociality mitigate illness perceptions toward COVID-19 on mental health? A cross-sectional study among Hong Kong adults. Global Health. 2021;17(1):43. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12992-021-00692-6 . Rullo M, Lalot F, Heering MS. Moral identity, moral self-efficacy, and moral elevation: A sequential mediation model predicting moral intentions and behaviour. J Posit Psychol. 2022;17(4):545–60. https://doi.org/10.1080/17439760.2021.1871942 . Dul J. Necessary condition analysis (NCA): Logic and methodology of necessary but not sufficient causality. Organizational Res Methods. 2016;19(1):10–52. https://doi.org/10.1177/1094428115584005 . Ding W, Wang X, Sun B, Li W. (2014). The structure and measurement of moral elevation. Advances in Psychology, 4 (6), 777–787. https://doi.org/1.12677/ap.2014.46102. Diener E, Emmons RA, Larsen RJ, Griffin S. The Satisfaction With Life Scale. J Pers Assess. 1985;49(1):71–5. https://doi.org/10.1207/s15327752jpa4901_13 . Yang Y, Zhang M, Kou Y. The revalidation and development of the Prosocial Behavior Scale for adolescents [In Chinese]. Chin Social Psychol Rev. 2016;10:135–50. Zhang H, Zhao H. Influence of urban residents' life satisfaction on prosocial behavioral intentions in the community: A multiple mediation model. J Community Psychol. 2021;49(2):406–18. https://doi.org/10.1002/jcop.22467 . Additional Declarations No competing interests reported. Cite Share Download PDF Status: Posted Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. As a division of Research Square Company, we’re committed to making research communication faster, fairer, and more useful. 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Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-6694318","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Research Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":476743476,"identity":"ce7d5606-4376-4f34-8db6-a7a555d6b5d7","order_by":0,"name":"Junqing Li","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Fujian Normal University","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Junqing","middleName":"","lastName":"Li","suffix":""},{"id":476743478,"identity":"44a39fd2-f9ff-4c04-a3f3-6b8316849f98","order_by":1,"name":"Youwei Yan","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Fujian Normal University","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Youwei","middleName":"","lastName":"Yan","suffix":""},{"id":476743482,"identity":"b7a5d91e-8a38-4796-89df-2be532e8ff6c","order_by":2,"name":"Evangelina Zhang","email":"data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAZAAAAAyAQMAAABI0h/eAAAABlBMVEX///8AAABVwtN+AAAACXBIWXMAAA7EAAAOxAGVKw4bAAAA2UlEQVRIiWNgGAWjYFCCBAaGj39q7PiBTGaitTDObDiWLNkA1cJDjBZm3gZmxg0HiNUi35777OPMHWzMxjeSD34uYLgjZ09IC2PPc+MZH8/I8JndSEuWnsHwzJigLcwSacyMM9jYmM1u5BhI8zAcTuwhpIUNqIWZh42ZcfOM/M+/gVrqCWrhAWnhbQN6XyKHDWRLAkGHSfA8AzrszLFkiTPPzKx5DA4b9hwgoEW+PY2Z4UMFMCrbkx/f5qk4LM/eQMgaOBBIABIGRCsHAX5CDhoFo2AUjIIRCwAdvjnY68z1VgAAAABJRU5ErkJggg==","orcid":"","institution":"University of Macau","correspondingAuthor":true,"prefix":"","firstName":"Evangelina","middleName":"","lastName":"Zhang","suffix":""}],"badges":[],"createdAt":"2025-05-19 02:23:22","currentVersionCode":1,"declarations":"","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-6694318/v1","doiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-6694318/v1","draftVersion":[],"editorialEvents":[],"editorialNote":"","failedWorkflow":false,"files":[{"id":85656524,"identity":"8d541ac2-7504-4096-8dcb-518197ab45ec","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-06-30 10:42:38","extension":"png","order_by":1,"title":"Figure 1","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"figure","size":636734,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"\u003cp\u003eNCA plot of Moral elevation-Life satisfaction\u003c/p\u003e","description":"","filename":"floatimage1.png","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-6694318/v1/9742f6efe9ed15ff64208695.png"},{"id":85656520,"identity":"35226f0e-d116-4f60-b17d-88098ba61684","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-06-30 10:42:38","extension":"png","order_by":2,"title":"Figure 2","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"figure","size":645031,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"\u003cp\u003eNCA plot of Prosocial behavior-Life satisfaction\u003c/p\u003e","description":"","filename":"floatimage2.png","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-6694318/v1/eb9feb617d653a9b549612d7.png"},{"id":105904013,"identity":"ae8f386e-acff-4c95-a956-9abf131325b8","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2026-04-01 10:00:33","extension":"pdf","order_by":0,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"manuscript-pdf","size":2470720,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"manuscript.pdf","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-6694318/v1/de4a69fe-1edf-4a5b-85d6-7d60ad858a54.pdf"}],"financialInterests":"No competing interests reported.","formattedTitle":"Promoting Adolescent Well-Being through Moral Emotions: A Multi-Method Examination of the Role of Moral Elevation and Prosocial Behavior in Life Satisfaction","fulltext":[{"header":"1 Moral Elevation and Life Satisfaction","content":"\u003cp\u003eMoral elevation, a positively valenced emotion elicited by witnessing acts of moral virtue such as altruism, compassion, or bravery, has been increasingly recognized as a crucial factor in enhancing individual well-being [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR1\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003e]. Unlike other moral emotions such as guilt or shame, which serve to inhibit immoral conduct, moral elevation inspires individuals to engage in morally exemplary behaviors, often accompanied by physiological sensations of warmth, feelings of admiration, and a desire for self-improvement [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR2\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2\u003c/span\u003e]. The experience of moral elevation has been conceptualized as an emotion that not only strengthens individual moral motivation but also facilitates psychosocial benefits that contribute to life satisfaction.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eFrom a psychological perspective, the link between moral elevation and life satisfaction can be explained through Fredrickson's (2001) Broaden-and-Build Theory [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR3\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e3\u003c/span\u003e]. According to this theory, positive emotions such as moral elevation broaden individuals' thought-action repertoires, leading to greater flexibility, creativity, and social connection. Over time, these expanded cognitive and behavioral patterns help to build enduring personal resources, including psychological resilience, interpersonal relationships, and coping mechanisms, which are all foundational to life satisfaction. For example, witnessing altruistic acts may inspire individuals to see the world as a more benevolent place, increasing optimism and trust in others, both of which are closely related to subjective well-being.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eEmpirical evidence further substantiates the positive association between moral elevation and life satisfaction. Čehajić-Clancy et al. (2024) demonstrated that exposure to narratives of moral exemplars enhanced intergroup attitudes and social cohesion, both of which contribute to individual well-being [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR4\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e4\u003c/span\u003e]. Similarly, Shulman et al. (2021) showed that moral elevation increased support for humanitarian actions and facilitated intergroup empathy, indicating its potential to transform both personal and societal emotional climates [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR5\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e5\u003c/span\u003e]. These findings suggest that moral elevation may serve as a motivational and emotional resource that reinforces both prosocial engagement and a general sense of fulfillment.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eMoreover, recent intervention-based studies have found that moral elevation can be deliberately induced through various stimuli such as videos, written narratives, or reflections on virtuous acts [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR6\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e6\u003c/span\u003e]. These interventions have been shown to lead to sustained improvements in mood, a heightened sense of purpose, and ultimately, increased life satisfaction. The underlying mechanism is believed to involve both immediate affective uplift and longer-term reinforcement of prosocial goals, which fulfill basic psychological needs for relatedness and meaning [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR7\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e7\u003c/span\u003e].\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eIn sum, moral elevation has emerged as a significant emotional experience with the capacity to enhance life satisfaction by promoting positive affect, moral engagement, and social connection. However, despite growing evidence of its benefits, most existing research relies on cross-sectional or experimental data, leaving questions about its longitudinal impact unresolved. More critically, whether moral elevation constitutes a necessary psychological precondition for achieving high life satisfaction remains unexplored. This underscores the need for integrative research approaches that combine longitudinal designs with causal inference techniques.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"2 The Mediation Role of Prosocial Behavior","content":"\u003cp\u003eProsocial behavior, encompassing voluntary actions aimed at benefiting others such as helping, sharing, or comforting, is well-documented as a robust predictor of psychological well-being and life satisfaction [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR8\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e8\u003c/span\u003e][\u003cspan citationid=\"CR9\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e9\u003c/span\u003e]. Importantly, prosocial behavior is not only an outcome of moral motivation but also a pathway through which moral emotions such as elevation exert their influence. Previous studies suggest that witnessing virtuous acts evokes moral elevation, which subsequently increases individuals' likelihood of engaging in prosocial behavior [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR1\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003e][\u003cspan citationid=\"CR10\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e10\u003c/span\u003e]. This chain of events forms a psychological sequence that may ultimately lead to enhanced life satisfaction.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eMoral elevation has been found to trigger a motivational state conducive to prosocial behavior, including heightened empathy, generosity, and a willingness to help strangers [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR11\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e11\u003c/span\u003e][\u003cspan citationid=\"CR12\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e12\u003c/span\u003e]. From an emotion-based perspective, elevation provides the affective impetus for moral action by enhancing perceptions of moral ideals and reinforcing one\u0026rsquo;s moral identity [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR13\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e13\u003c/span\u003e]. In this context, moral elevation functions as a mediating emotional experience that translates the perception of moral virtue into actual prosocial conduct.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eOnce enacted, prosocial behavior contributes to life satisfaction by fulfilling key psychological needs outlined in Self-Determination Theory [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR7\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e7\u003c/span\u003e], particularly the needs for relatedness and competence. Engaging in altruistic acts enhances social connection and fosters a sense of purpose, both of which are central to subjective well-being [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR9\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e9\u003c/span\u003e][\u003cspan citationid=\"CR14\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e14\u003c/span\u003e]. Moreover, helping others has been shown to reduce psychological distress, mitigate loneliness, and improve mood, thereby serving as an effective mechanism for sustaining life satisfaction during adverse circumstances, such as the COVID-19 pandemic [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR15\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e15\u003c/span\u003e].\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eDespite the empirical support for this mediation model, few studies have examined the sequential relationship among moral elevation, prosocial behavior, and life satisfaction within a unified analytical framework. Ding et al. (2018) and Rullo et al. (2022) proposed that prosocial behavior mediates the relationship between moral motivations and well-being outcomes, but these models have rarely been tested using longitudinal or causal methods [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR10\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e10\u003c/span\u003e][\u003cspan citationid=\"CR16\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e16\u003c/span\u003e]. Furthermore, much of the existing literature relies on correlational data, limiting the ability to draw robust causal inferences.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"3 The Present Study","content":"\u003cp\u003eThe present research comprises three studies designed to elucidate the psychological mechanisms through which moral elevation influences life satisfaction, with a specific focus on the role of prosocial behavior. In Study 1, we employed a longitudinal design to examine the temporal associations among moral elevation, prosocial behavior, and life satisfaction in a sample of adolescents. This study tests two primary hypotheses:\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eHypothesis 1\u003c/strong\u003e \u003cp\u003eMoral elevation will be positively related to life satisfaction.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eHypothesis 2\u003c/strong\u003e \u003cp\u003eProsocial behavior will mediate the relationship between moral elevation and life satisfaction.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eTo extend these findings and examine whether moral elevation and prosocial behavior are not merely predictors but also prerequisites for high life satisfaction, Study 2 applied Necessary Condition Analysis (NCA). NCA is a methodology capable of identifying necessary but not sufficient conditions for an outcome to occur [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR17\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e17\u003c/span\u003e]. From the perspective of NCA, we proposed two hypotheses:\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eHypothesis 3\u003c/strong\u003e \u003cp\u003eMoral elevation will be a necessary condition for life satisfaction.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eHypothesis 4\u003c/strong\u003e \u003cp\u003eProsocial behavior will be a necessary condition for life satisfaction.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eFinally, Study 3 implemented an experimental design to assess whether a structured moral elevation intervention can causally enhance life satisfaction among adolescents. Participants were exposed to narratives and multimedia content depicting morally elevating events over a four-week period. The aim was to evaluate the causal impact of moral elevation on well-being and to test the following hypothesis:\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eHypothesis 5\u003c/strong\u003e \u003cp\u003eEngaging in a moral elevation intervention will increase life satisfaction.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eCollectively, these three studies offer a comprehensive investigation into the motivational, emotional, and behavioral pathways linking moral elevation to life satisfaction. By integrating longitudinal data, necessary condition analysis, and experimental manipulation, this research provides a robust empirical foundation for understanding how moral emotions can be harnessed to promote adolescent well-being.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"4 Method","content":"\u003cp\u003e \u003cb\u003eParticipants\u003c/b\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eStudy 1 and Study 2 involved a longitudinal cohort of 1,200 adolescents aged 12 to 16 years, recruited from two public secondary schools in China. Data collection occurred between October and December 2024. The baseline survey (Wave 1) was administered during the fifth week of the academic semester, with a follow-up assessment (Wave 2) conducted three months later. To enhance data quality, two attention check items (e.g., \u0026ldquo;I am a human being\u0026rdquo;) were embedded in the questionnaire. Participants who failed these checks by selecting implausible responses (e.g., \u0026ldquo;disagree\u0026rdquo; or \u0026ldquo;strongly disagree\u0026rdquo;) were excluded from further analyses. After this quality control procedure, 1,096 valid responses were retained at Wave 1. At the three-month follow-up, 920 participants provided valid responses at both time points (Mage\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;13.68, SDage\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.96).\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eStudy 3 employed a randomized controlled trial (RCT) design to examine the causal effect of a moral elevation intervention on life satisfaction. A total of 92 adolescents aged 16 to 18 years (Mage\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;16.93, SDage\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.89) were recruited from a private high school in the UK. The sample size exceeded the minimum requirement recommended by G*Power for detecting medium-sized effects. Data collection occurred from October to November 2024. Participants were randomly assigned to either an experimental group or a control group. Baseline equivalence between the groups was confirmed across demographic (e.g., gender, age) and psychological variables (e.g., moral elevation, life satisfaction). The intervention group received an 8-week moral elevation training program, while the control group received no treatment during the same period.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e All procedures were reviewed and approved by the Institutional Review Board of St. Mary\u0026rsquo;s College (STERC2023930-04). The research adhered to the ethical principles outlined in the Declaration of Helsinki. Informed consent was obtained digitally from all participants and their legal guardians via a secure online platform. The consent form clearly described the study\u0026rsquo;s aims, procedures, potential risks and benefits, rights to voluntary participation and withdrawal, and measures for ensuring data confidentiality. Special emphasis was placed on participants\u0026rsquo; autonomy and data protection before the commencement of any study activities.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cb\u003eMeasures\u003c/b\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eMoral elevation was assessed using the 21-item Moral Elevation Scale developed by Ding et al. (2014) [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR18\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e18\u003c/span\u003e], which demonstrated excellent internal consistency in the current study (Cronbach\u0026rsquo;s α\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;.94). Sample items include statements such as \u0026ldquo;When virtuous actions are clear in my mind, I feel excited,\u0026rdquo; which reflect emotional and motivational responses to witnessing moral beauty. Life satisfaction was measured using the 5-item Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS; Diener et al., 1985), a widely validated instrument for assessing global cognitive judgments of one\u0026rsquo;s life. In this study [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR19\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e19\u003c/span\u003e], the scale demonstrated acceptable reliability (α\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;.77). A representative item includes, \u0026ldquo;In most ways my life is close to my ideal.\u0026rdquo; Prosocial behavior was evaluated using the 15-item Prosocial Behavior Scale for Adolescents developed by Yang et al. (2016), which assesses various forms of socially constructive behavior [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR20\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e20\u003c/span\u003e]. The scale showed excellent internal consistency in this study (α\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;.90). Sample items include statements such as \u0026ldquo;I pay attention to maintaining order in public places.\u0026rdquo; All three scales utilized a 7-point Likert response format ranging from 1 (strongly disagree) to 7 (strongly agree), with higher scores indicating greater levels of the corresponding construct. In addition to the psychological measures, participants also reported demographic information including gender, age, and educational status.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eFor Study 3, the moral elevation intervention was implemented through eight structured, offline sessions delivered over the course of one month. The intervention was adapted from protocols used in prior experimental research (e.g., McGuire et al., 2023) and included components designed to elicit moral elevation, such as viewing video clips depicting virtuous acts, engaging in reflective writing, and setting personal goals related to moral action [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR6\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e6\u003c/span\u003e].\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cb\u003eData Analysis\u003c/b\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eAll statistical analyses were conducted using R software (version 4.4.2). In Study 1, descriptive statistics and Pearson product-moment correlations were first computed to examine associations among key study variables. To test the hypothesized relationships among moral elevation, prosocial behavior, and life satisfaction, structural equation modeling (SEM) was conducted. Study 2 employed necessary condition analysis (NCA) to identify whether moral elevation and prosocial behavior served as necessary but not sufficient conditions for achieving high levels of life satisfaction. The bottleneck analysis and effect size metrics (e.g., \u003cem\u003ed\u003c/em\u003e scores) were used to interpret the practical significance of the necessary conditions. In Study 3, differences between the experimental group and control group were analyzed using independent samples t-tests to compare group means at post-test. Additionally, paired samples t-tests were conducted within each group to examine pre-post changes in moral elevation and life satisfaction. Effect sizes were calculated using Cohen\u0026rsquo;s d to estimate the magnitude of intervention effects. Statistical significance was evaluated at the conventional α\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;.05 level.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"5 Result","content":"\u003cp\u003e \u003cb\u003eDescriptive Statistical Results\u003c/b\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eTable\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab1\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003e presents the means, standard deviations, and Pearson correlation coefficients among the key study variables: moral elevation at Time 1 (T1), prosocial behavior at Time 2 (T2), and life satisfaction at Time 2 (T2). The results revealed statistically significant and positive associations between moral elevation (T1) and prosocial behavior (T2) (\u003cem\u003er\u003c/em\u003e = .674, \u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e \u0026lt; .01), moral elevation (T1) and life satisfaction (T2) (\u003cem\u003er\u003c/em\u003e = .395, \u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e \u0026lt; .01), as well as prosocial behavior (T2) and life satisfaction (T2) (\u003cem\u003er\u003c/em\u003e = .493, \u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e \u0026lt; .01). These findings support Hypothesis \u003cspan refid=\"FPar1\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003e, which posits that higher levels of moral elevation are positively associated with greater life satisfaction. Moreover, the strong correlation between moral elevation and prosocial behavior provides a theoretical basis for testing mediation effects in subsequent analyses. The descriptive statistics show that participants reported moderate to high levels of moral elevation (\u003cem\u003eM\u003c/em\u003e = 4.219, \u003cem\u003eSD\u003c/em\u003e = 0.625), high levels of prosocial behavior (\u003cem\u003eM\u003c/em\u003e = 5.518, \u003cem\u003eSD\u003c/em\u003e = 1.007), and moderate levels of life satisfaction (\u003cem\u003eM\u003c/em\u003e = 4.285, \u003cem\u003eSD\u003c/em\u003e = 1.327). These patterns are consistent with expectations for early adolescents in school settings and indicate sufficient variability for further modeling.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003c/p\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"gridtable\"\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c1\" colnum=\"1\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c2\" colnum=\"2\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c3\" colnum=\"3\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c4\" colnum=\"4\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003ctable float=\"Yes\" id=\"Tab1\" border=\"1\"\u003e\u003ccaption language=\"En\"\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionNumber\"\u003eTable 1\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionContent\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eDescriptive Statistics of the Key Variables\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003c/caption\u003e\u003ccolgroup cols=\"4\"\u003e\u003c/colgroup\u003e\u003cthead\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eVariables\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eMoral elevation\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eT1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eProsocial behavior\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eT2\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eLife Satisfaction T2\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003c/thead\u003e\u003ctbody\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eMoral elevation T1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eProsocial behavior T2\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e.674 \u003csup\u003e**\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eLife Satisfaction T2\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e.395 \u003csup\u003e**\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e.493 \u003csup\u003e**\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eMean (± SD)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4.219 (± .625)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e5.518 (± 1.007)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4.285 (± 1.327)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003c/tbody\u003e\u003ctfoot\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd colspan=\"4\"\u003eNote. \u003cem\u003eN\u003c/em\u003e = 920.\u003csup\u003e\u003cem\u003e**\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e \u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e \u0026lt; .01.\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003c/tfoot\u003e\u003c/table\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003ctd colspan=\"4\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eTest for Mediating Effect\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eTo examine the mediating role of prosocial behavior in the relationship between moral elevation and life satisfaction, a bootstrapping procedure with 5,000 resamples was conducted. This nonparametric approach provides a robust estimation of indirect effects and their confidence intervals (CIs), thereby reducing Type I error and enhancing the validity of mediation inferences.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eAs presented in Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab2\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e2\u003c/span\u003e, the indirect effect of moral elevation on life satisfaction through prosocial behavior was statistically significant (β = .594, Boot SE = .063), with a 95% confidence interval (CI) that did not include zero (CI [.472, .717]). The direct effect of moral elevation on life satisfaction remained significant (β = .243, Boot SE = .082, CI [.085, .409]), suggesting partial mediation. The total effect of moral elevation on life satisfaction was also significant (β = .838, Boot SE = .060, CI [.717, .954]). Notably, the indirect pathway accounted for approximately 70.9% of the total effect, indicating that prosocial behavior serves as a substantial mediating mechanism in the link between moral elevation and life satisfaction. These results provide strong empirical support for Hypothesis \u003cspan refid=\"FPar2\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e2\u003c/span\u003e, which posited that prosocial behavior mediates the relationship between moral elevation and life satisfaction.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003c/p\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"gridtable\"\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c1\" colnum=\"1\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c2\" colnum=\"2\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c3\" colnum=\"3\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c4\" colnum=\"4\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c5\" colnum=\"5\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003ctable float=\"Yes\" id=\"Tab2\" border=\"1\"\u003e\u003ccaption language=\"En\"\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionNumber\"\u003eTable 2\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionContent\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eBootstrapping Analysis of the Mediating Effect\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003c/caption\u003e\u003ccolgroup cols=\"5\"\u003e\u003c/colgroup\u003e\u003cthead\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003ePath\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eCoefficient\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eBoot SE\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c5\" namest=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eBoot 95% CI\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003c/thead\u003e\u003ctbody\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eLL\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eUL\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eIndirect effect: Moral elevation → Prosocial behavior → Life satisfaction\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e.594\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e.063\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e.472\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e.717\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eDirect effect: Moral elevation → Life satisfaction\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e.243\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e.082\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e.085\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e.409\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eTotal effect\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e.838\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e.060\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e.717\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e.954\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003c/tbody\u003e\u003ctfoot\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd colspan=\"5\"\u003eNote. SE = standard error; LL = lower limit; UL = upper limit; CI = confidence intervals.\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003c/tfoot\u003e\u003c/table\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd colspan=\"5\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eTest for Necessary Condition Analysis\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eTo further explore the role of moral elevation and prosocial behavior in predicting life satisfaction, the present study employed NCA, a technique particularly suited to uncovering asymmetric relationships—specifically, whether certain antecedent variables are necessary but not sufficient conditions for a desired outcome [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR17\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e17\u003c/span\u003e]. Unlike correlational or regression-based approaches that estimate average tendencies across a population, NCA focuses on boundary conditions: whether the presence of a specific level of a predictor is required to make the outcome possible. Initial visual inspection of the bivariate scatterplots revealed distinct blank zones in the upper-left quadrants of both plots (Figs.\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Fig1\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003e and \u003cspan refid=\"Fig2\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e2\u003c/span\u003e). According to NCA theory, these zones represent “ceiling lines” beyond which high levels of the outcome (life satisfaction) are not observed unless accompanied by a minimum threshold of the predictor variable. Specifically, the absence of data points in the upper-left area implies that participants with low levels of moral elevation or prosocial behavior do not attain high life satisfaction. This visual evidence suggests that both variables may serve as necessary but not sufficient precursors to enhanced well-being.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eTo formally evaluate this pattern, two ceiling analysis techniques were implemented: Ceiling Envelopment with Free Disposal Hull (CE-FDH) and Ceiling Regression with Free Disposal Hull (CR-FDH). The CE-FDH method identifies the minimum levels of an antecedent variable needed for a given outcome, while CR-FDH provides a more nuanced regression-based estimate and allows for the calculation of effect sizes, a key indicator of the practical significance of a necessary condition.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eAs reported in Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab3\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e3\u003c/span\u003e, the CR-FDH method yielded an effect size of 0.310 for moral elevation and 0.213 for prosocial behavior. According to the criteria proposed by Dul (2016), an effect size between 0.1 and 0.3 indicates a medium-level necessary condition, while an effect size between 0.3 and 0.5 denotes a large-level condition [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR17\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e17\u003c/span\u003e]. Thus, moral elevation was found to be a large necessary condition, and prosocial behavior a medium necessary condition for achieving high levels of life satisfaction. These findings indicate that although both variables do not guarantee high life satisfaction on their own, their absence effectively precludes it, thereby reinforcing Hypotheses 3 and 4.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003c/p\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"gridtable\"\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c1\" colnum=\"1\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c2\" colnum=\"2\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c3\" colnum=\"3\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c4\" colnum=\"4\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c5\" colnum=\"5\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c6\" colnum=\"6\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c7\" colnum=\"7\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c8\" colnum=\"8\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003ctable float=\"Yes\" id=\"Tab3\" border=\"1\"\u003e\u003ccaption language=\"En\"\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionNumber\"\u003eTable 3\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionContent\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eNecessity Analysis Results\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003c/caption\u003e\u003ccolgroup cols=\"8\"\u003e\u003c/colgroup\u003e\u003cthead\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eVariable\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eTechnique\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eAccuracy\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eCeiling Zone\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eScope\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eEffect Size (d)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eCondition Inefficiency\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eOutcome Inefficiency\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003c/thead\u003e\u003ctbody\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eMoral elevation\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eCE-FDH\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e100%\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e7.981\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e24\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.333\u003csup\u003eb\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e25.000\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eCR-FDH\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e99.6%\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e7.441\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e24\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.310\u003csup\u003eb\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e33.907\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e6.180\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eProsocial behavior\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eCE-FDH\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e100%\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e9.527\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e36\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.265\u003csup\u003ea\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e41.667\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e6.667\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eCR-FDH\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e99.9%\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e7.652\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e36\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.213\u003csup\u003ea\u003c/sup\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e48.934\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e16.757\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"8\" nameend=\"c8\" namest=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eNote: CE-FDH = ceiling envelopment with free disposal hull; CR-FDH = ceiling regression with free disposal hull;\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003csup\u003ea\u003c/sup\u003e 0.1 \u0026lt; d \u0026lt; 0.3: medium level; \u003csup\u003eb\u003c/sup\u003e 0.3 \u0026lt; d \u0026lt; 0.5: large level.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003c/tbody\u003e\u003c/table\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eIn addition to the single-variable analysis, a bottleneck analysis was performed to investigate the combined necessity of moral elevation and prosocial behavior across varying levels of life satisfaction. Bottleneck tables, such as Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab4\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e4\u003c/span\u003e, present the minimum required values of each necessary condition to achieve a specified percentage level of the outcome variable, thus offering a more granular understanding of their joint constraints..\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003c/p\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"gridtable\"\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c1\" colnum=\"1\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c2\" colnum=\"2\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c3\" colnum=\"3\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003ctable float=\"Yes\" id=\"Tab4\" border=\"1\"\u003e\u003ccaption language=\"En\"\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionNumber\"\u003eTable 4\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionContent\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eBottleneck Table for Necessary Condition Combination Analysis (CR-FDH)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003c/caption\u003e\u003ccolgroup cols=\"3\"\u003e\u003c/colgroup\u003e\u003cthead\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eLife satisfaction (%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eMoral elevation (%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e\u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eProsocial behavior (%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003c/thead\u003e\u003ctbody\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eNN\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eNN\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e10\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e2.7\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eNN\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e20\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e9.7\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e2.0\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e30\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e16.8\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e8.1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e40\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e23.8\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e14.3\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e50\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e30.9\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e20.4\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e60\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e37.9\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e26.5\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e70\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e45.0\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e32.7\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e80\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e52.0\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e38.8\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e90\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e59.0\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e44.9\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e100\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e66.1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e51.1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"3\" nameend=\"c3\" namest=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eNote: NN = Not Necessary\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003c/tbody\u003e\u003c/table\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe bottleneck table reveals several noteworthy trends. At lower levels of life satisfaction (e.g., 0–20%), only minimal levels of moral elevation are required, and prosocial behavior is largely non-essential. However, as life satisfaction increases to moderate levels (30–60%), the necessity thresholds for both variables rise steadily, indicating a dual necessity dynamic. For example, achieving a 50% life satisfaction score requires at least 30.9% of the maximum observed value of moral elevation and 20.4% of prosocial behavior. At higher satisfaction levels (70–100%), this pattern becomes more pronounced, with the requirements reaching 66.1% for moral elevation and 51.1% for prosocial behavior to support full life satisfaction.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThese results highlight a synergistic interaction between the two psychological resources. Neither high life satisfaction nor emotional flourishing can be attained without the co-presence of both elevated moral cognition and social engagement. The findings imply that interventions aimed at enhancing adolescent well-being should concurrently target the development of moral sensitivity and prosocial action tendencies to maximize their impact.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eTaken together, the NCA results provide compelling evidence that moral elevation and prosocial behavior are not merely correlates of life satisfaction, but rather serve as foundational psychological conditions that must be sufficiently present to enable higher levels of well-being. This underscores their theoretical and practical importance in designing positive psychology interventions, especially for adolescents navigating identity formation and moral development.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cb\u003eResults of the Experiment\u003c/b\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eTo evaluate the efficacy of the moral elevation intervention, both between-group and within-group comparisons were conducted using independent and paired samples t-tests.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003ePrior to the intervention, baseline equivalence between the experimental and control groups was assessed. No significant differences were found in either moral elevation (t(90) = − 1.87, \u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e = .065) or life satisfaction (t(90) = 0.18, \u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e = .855), indicating that the two groups were statistically comparable at pre-test. This baseline homogeneity satisfied the essential assumption for a valid evaluation of the treatment effect and strengthened the internal validity of the subsequent comparisons.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eFollowing the 8-week intervention, independent samples t-tests revealed statistically significant group differences in both outcome variables. Participants in the experimental group reported higher levels of moral elevation (t(90) = − 2.70, \u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e \u0026lt; .05) and greater life satisfaction (t(90) = − 2.32, \u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e \u0026lt; .05) than their counterparts in the control group. These results suggest that exposure to the moral elevation training produced positive effects on participants' moral emotions and subjective well-being, thereby demonstrating the between-group effectiveness of the intervention. To further examine within-group changes, paired samples t-tests were conducted comparing pre-test and post-test scores. Among participants in the experimental group, there was a significant increase in life satisfaction from pre-test to post-test (t(45) = − 2.32, \u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e \u0026lt; .05), indicating that the intervention yielded measurable improvements over time. In contrast, no significant changes were observed within the control group (t(45) = − 0.23, \u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e = .817), further confirming the specific impact of the intervention rather than maturation or external influences. These within-group results provide additional empirical support for Hypothesis \u003cspan refid=\"FPar5\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e5\u003c/span\u003e, which posited that moral elevation interventions would enhance life satisfaction among adolescents.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eCollectively, the findings from both the between- and within-group analyses underscore the effectiveness of the moral elevation intervention in promoting adolescents’ moral emotional responses and psychological well-being. These results align with prior literature suggesting that interventions targeting moral cognition and prosocial emotions can serve as effective strategies for improving youth life outcomes.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cb\u003eDiscussion\u003c/b\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe current study contributes to the growing literature on moral elevation by demonstrating its predictive and causal roles in enhancing life satisfaction and promoting prosocial behavior. Through a triangulated methodological approach involving longitudinal analysis, necessary condition analysis, and experimental intervention, our findings provide robust evidence that moral elevation is not merely a positive emotional response, but also a psychologically potent mechanism that fosters well-being. Furthermore, this study affirms the mediating role of prosocial behavior in the moral elevation-life satisfaction nexus, echoing theoretical perspectives from positive psychology and moral emotion research [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR1\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003e][\u003cspan citationid=\"CR3\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e3\u003c/span\u003e].\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eOur findings align with and extend previous research indicating that moral elevation, elicited by witnessing acts of moral virtue, fosters a desire to emulate such behavior and enhances one’s sense of purpose and meaning [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR2\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2\u003c/span\u003e][\u003cspan citationid=\"CR13\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e13\u003c/span\u003e]. In our longitudinal study (Study 1), we confirmed that adolescents who experienced higher levels of moral elevation reported significantly greater life satisfaction over time, supporting the Broaden-and-Build Theory of Positive Emotions [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR3\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e3\u003c/span\u003e]. This finding is also consistent with Čehajić-Clancy et al. (2024), who reported that moral elevation in intergroup conflict contexts increased approach-oriented attitudes, suggesting that elevation can extend its influence beyond interpersonal to societal well-being [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR4\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e4\u003c/span\u003e].\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe mediating role of prosocial behavior observed in our model underscores the critical pathway by which moral elevation fosters well-being. Ding et al. (2018) demonstrated that moral elevation bridges the gap between moral cognition and behavior by transforming abstract moral thoughts into concrete prosocial actions [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR10\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e10\u003c/span\u003e]. Our results reinforce this view, suggesting that moral elevation evokes moral emotions that energize helping behaviors, which in turn contribute to greater life satisfaction. This mediation effect is theoretically grounded in Self-Determination Theory, where prosocial actions fulfill fundamental psychological needs, such as relatedness and competence, thereby enhancing subjective well-being [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR7\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e7\u003c/span\u003e].\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eMoreover, the NCA (Study 2) provides novel insights into the essentiality of moral elevation and prosocial behavior for achieving high levels of life satisfaction. This analysis moves beyond correlational and mediation models to highlight that certain levels of moral elevation and prosocial behavior are not just facilitators but prerequisites for high life satisfaction. This finding adds a new dimension to existing literature by positioning moral elevation as a necessary emotional antecedent in the architecture of well-being, consistent with Dul's (2016) framework for identifying bottleneck conditions in psychological phenomena [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR17\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e17\u003c/span\u003e].\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe efficacy of our experimental intervention (Study 3) further corroborates the causal role of moral elevation. Adolescents exposed to narratives and videos depicting moral excellence demonstrated significant increases in both moral elevation and life satisfaction. These results replicate and extend earlier work by McGuire et al. (2023), who found that repeated exposure to moral elevation stimuli can lead to cumulative benefits in mood and meaning [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR6\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e6\u003c/span\u003e]. The current findings affirm that elevation-based interventions can be a practical tool for promoting adolescent well-being, particularly in school-based contexts.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThese conclusions are also supported by Shulman et al. (2021), who found that moral elevation enhances support for humanitarian actions even in the context of intractable conflict [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR5\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e5\u003c/span\u003e]. They argue that the unique positivity of elevation, unlike guilt or shame, enables sustained moral motivation without the emotional costs associated with other moral emotions. Additionally, Čehajić-Clancy et al. (2024) demonstrated that exposure to morally uplifting out-group behavior improved inter-group relations and increased approach tendencies [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR4\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e4\u003c/span\u003e]. These results emphasize the broader social utility of elevation beyond individual-level outcomes.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eNotably, our findings reinforce the proposition that moral elevation can be intentionally cultivated through structured interventions. This supports the practical implications proposed by Ding et al. (2018) and Espinosa et al. (2022), who advocate for prosocial engagement as a vehicle for enhancing life satisfaction [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR9\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e9\u003c/span\u003e][\u003cspan citationid=\"CR10\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e10\u003c/span\u003e]. Particularly during crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic, prosocial behavior has been found to mitigate negative emotional states and enhance overall well-being [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR9\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e9\u003c/span\u003e][\u003cspan citationid=\"CR15\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e15\u003c/span\u003e].\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eFurthermore, gender and cultural factors may moderate the efficacy of elevation-based interventions. Ding et al. (2018) noted that women tend to experience stronger emotional reactions to moral stimuli, suggesting that tailored interventions may be more effective [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR10\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e10\u003c/span\u003e]. Additionally, the collectivist orientation in Chinese cultural contexts may amplify the effects of moral elevation by reinforcing interdependent values and community engagement [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR21\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e21\u003c/span\u003e].\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eIn summary, the current research provides compelling evidence that moral elevation plays a pivotal role in shaping prosocial behavior and enhancing life satisfaction. By integrating diverse methodological approaches, our findings not only validate the theoretical claims of moral elevation literature but also offer practical pathways for psychological intervention. The results underscore the value of cultivating moral emotions and prosocial orientations in adolescence as a means to promote flourishing across individual and societal domains.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cb\u003eLimitations\u003c/b\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eDespite the theoretical and practical contributions of this study, several limitations warrant attention. First, the study relied exclusively on self-report instruments to assess moral elevation, prosocial behavior, and life satisfaction. Although validated scales were used, such measures are susceptible to response biases such as social desirability and self-enhancement. Future studies should incorporate behavioral indicators or physiological measures (e.g., heart rate variability, neural activity) to triangulate findings and capture real-time emotional and behavioral responses to moral elevation. Second, the sample consisted primarily of Chinese adolescents, which may limit the generalizability of the findings across cultures, age groups, and socioeconomic backgrounds. Moral values and prosocial norms are culturally bound, and elevation-based interventions may operate differently in collectivist versus individualist societies. Subsequent research should employ cross-cultural comparative designs to test the universality or cultural specificity of these effects. Third, although Study 1 utilized a longitudinal design and Study 3 adopted experimental manipulation, causality could still be further substantiated through ecological momentary assessment (EMA) or daily diary studies, which better capture dynamic emotional experiences in naturalistic settings. Additionally, the necessary condition analysis, while illuminating, assumes a deterministic logic that may overlook probabilistic relationships. Complementary use of structural equation modeling or multilevel modeling may offer richer insights.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"6. Conclusion","content":" \u003cp\u003eMoral elevation was found to be positively associated with life satisfaction; (2) Prosocial behavior significantly mediated the relationship between moral elevation and life satisfaction; (3) Moral elevation was a necessary condition for life satisfaction; (4) Prosocial behavior was a necessary condition for life satisfaction; (5) Moral elevation intervention can increase life satisfaction among adolescents.\u003c/p\u003e "},{"header":"Declarations","content":"\u003ch2\u003eEthics approval and consent to participate\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003e All procedures were approved by the Institutional Review Board of St. Mary\u0026rsquo;s College (STERC2023930-04) and complied with the Declaration of Helsinki. Informed digital consent was obtained from all participants and their legal guardians. The consent form detailed the study\u0026rsquo;s purpose, procedures, risks, benefits, voluntary participation, and data confidentiality, with emphasis on autonomy and data protection.\u003c/p\u003e \u003ch2\u003eAuthor Contribution\u003c/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eJ.Q.L. was involved in the study design, data collection, and manuscript writing.Y.W.Y. contributed to data analysis, interpretation, and manuscript revision.E.Z. contributed to data analysis, supervised the project and provided critical revisions.All authors read and approved the final manuscript.\u003c/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eAcknowledgement\u003c/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eWe would like to grateful all participants who agreed to participate in this study.\u003c/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eData Availability\u003c/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe data that support the study may be available upon request with permission from the researchers who collected the data.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"References","content":"\u003col\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eHaidt J. 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J Pers Assess. 1985;49(1):71\u0026ndash;5. \u003cspan class=\"ExternalRef\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"RefSource\"\u003ehttps://doi.org/10.1207/s15327752jpa4901_13\u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan address=\"10.1207/s15327752jpa4901_13\" targettype=\"DOI\" class=\"RefTarget\"\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e.\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eYang Y, Zhang M, Kou Y. The revalidation and development of the Prosocial Behavior Scale for adolescents [In Chinese]. Chin Social Psychol Rev. 2016;10:135\u0026ndash;50.\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eZhang H, Zhao H. Influence of urban residents' life satisfaction on prosocial behavioral intentions in the community: A multiple mediation model. J Community Psychol. 2021;49(2):406\u0026ndash;18. \u003cspan class=\"ExternalRef\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"RefSource\"\u003ehttps://doi.org/10.1002/jcop.22467\u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan address=\"10.1002/jcop.22467\" targettype=\"DOI\" class=\"RefTarget\"\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e.\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\u003c/ol\u003e"}],"fulltextSource":"","fullText":"","funders":[],"hasAdminPriorityOnWorkflow":false,"hasManuscriptDocX":true,"hasOptedInToPreprint":true,"hasPassedJournalQc":"","hasAnyPriority":false,"hideJournal":true,"highlight":"","institution":"","isAcceptedByJournal":false,"isAuthorSuppliedPdf":false,"isDeskRejected":"","isHiddenFromSearch":false,"isInQc":false,"isInWorkflow":false,"isPdf":false,"isPdfUpToDate":true,"isWithdrawnOrRetracted":false,"journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"researchsquare","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"externalIdentity":"","sideBox":"","snPcode":"","submissionUrl":"/submission","title":"Research Square","twitterHandle":"researchsquare","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":false,"editorialSystem":"","reportingPortfolio":"","inReviewEnabled":false,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true},"keywords":"Moral elevation, Life satisfaction, Prosocial behavior, Necessary condition analysis, Intervention study, Longitudinal study","lastPublishedDoi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-6694318/v1","lastPublishedDoiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-6694318/v1","license":{"name":"CC BY 4.0","url":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"},"manuscriptAbstract":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMoral elevation, a positively valenced emotion elicited by witnessing virtuous acts, has been increasingly recognized as a catalyst for moral motivation and personal well-being. Drawing upon the Broaden-and-Build Theory and Self-Determination Theory, this research explores how moral elevation contributes to adolescent life satisfaction, both directly and through the mediating role of prosocial behavior. Three studies were conducted to test five hypotheses. Study 1 employed a two-wave longitudinal design among 920 adolescents, revealing that moral elevation positively predicted life satisfaction and that prosocial behavior partially mediated this relationship. Study 2 used Necessary Condition Analysis (NCA) to identify whether moral elevation and prosocial behavior are not only predictive but necessary conditions for high life satisfaction. Results showed that both variables constituted critical psychological thresholds: moral elevation was a large-level necessary condition, while prosocial behavior was of medium-level necessity. Study 3 implemented an 8-week randomized controlled trial, confirming that moral elevation interventions significantly improved life satisfaction. Together, these findings offer robust empirical support for the psychological centrality of moral emotions and social engagement in promoting adolescent well-being. Theoretical implications for positive psychology and practical guidance for school-based interventions are discussed.\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTrial registration:\u003cstrong\u003e International Standard Randomised Controlled Trial Number (ISRCTN) registry, ISRCTN14856201. Registered on 24 September 2024.\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e","manuscriptTitle":"Promoting Adolescent Well-Being through Moral Emotions: A Multi-Method Examination of the Role of Moral Elevation and Prosocial Behavior in Life Satisfaction","msid":"","msnumber":"","nonDraftVersions":[{"code":1,"date":"2025-06-30 10:42:33","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-6694318/v1","editorialEvents":[{"type":"communityComments","content":0}],"status":"published","journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"researchsquare","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"externalIdentity":"","sideBox":"","snPcode":"","submissionUrl":"/submission","title":"Research Square","twitterHandle":"researchsquare","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":false,"editorialSystem":"","reportingPortfolio":"","inReviewEnabled":false,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true}}],"origin":"","ownerIdentity":"078f0010-9543-4a2c-a2c4-7b613c85f9be","owner":[],"postedDate":"June 30th, 2025","published":true,"recentEditorialEvents":[],"rejectedJournal":[],"revision":"","amendment":"","status":"posted","subjectAreas":[],"tags":[],"updatedAt":"2026-03-31T06:42:15+00:00","versionOfRecord":[],"versionCreatedAt":"2025-06-30 10:42:33","video":"","vorDoi":"","vorDoiUrl":"","workflowStages":[]},"version":"v1","identity":"rs-6694318","journalConfig":"researchsquare"},"__N_SSP":true},"page":"/article/[identity]/[[...version]]","query":{"redirect":"/article/rs-6694318","identity":"rs-6694318","version":["v1"]},"buildId":"XKTyCvWXoU3ODBz1xrDgd","isFallback":false,"isExperimentalCompile":false,"dynamicIds":[84888],"gssp":true,"scriptLoader":[]}