Psychological Development and Education ›› 2026, Vol. 42 ›› Issue (3): 358-369.doi: 10.16187/j.cnki.issn1001-4918.2026.03.06

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The Changes of Donation Behavior in China: An Age-period-cohort Effects Analysis (2010—2022)

WANG Linxin, LIN Jing, KOU Yu   

  1. Beijing Key Laboratory of Applied Experimental Psychology, National Demonstration Center for Experimental Psychology Education (Beijing Normal University), Institute of Developmental Psychology, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875
  • Published:2026-05-15

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Abstract: As a crucial aspect of social capital, donation behavior is the typical prosocial behavior in which individuals voluntarily donate money, goods, or time to individuals, groups, or institutions in need. The current study utilized seven-wave data (N = 76377, 44.89% females; age range: 18~100 years old, Mage = 52.85 years old, SD = 16.41) based on the China Family Panel Studies (CFPS) spanning from 2010 to 2022, including adult and household economic questionnaires. Employing hierarchical age-period-cohort-cross-classified random effects models (HAPC-CCREM), the current study investigated the trends in changes in Chinese donation behavior. Our results indicated: (1) Donation behavior exhibited an inverted J-shaped trend concerning age; (2) After controlling for demographic and socio-economic status variables, period effects revealed a U-shaped trend in donation behavior from 2010 to 2020, followed by a decline in 2022 in China; (3) Cohort effects revealed a V-shaped pattern in donation behavior among cohorts born between 1912 and 2002. In specific, two peaks were observed in the 1912—1926 Cohort and 1978—1984 Cohort, while the 1958—1961 Cohort was at the lowest point. Subsequently, there was a decline in donation behavior in the 1985—1991 Cohort and 1992—2002 Cohort.

Key words: donation behavior, social change, life course, age-period-cohort effect

CLC Number: 

  • B844
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① 纳入人口学变量和社会经济地位变量后,世代效应依旧显著,其最低点由1950-1966年间出生的三个世代变为1958-1961出生世代。
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