The moderating role of reward/punishment sensitivity in the relationship between intelligence and prosocial behavior in children

Can the relationship between intelligence and prosocial behavior in children be moderated by the personality trait of reward/punishment sensitivity? To answer the question, we utilized data from the ABCD study, which included a total of 10,606 children aged 9 to 11 years. Prosocial behavior was assessed using a shortened subscale of the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire. Fluid and crystallized intelligence were evaluated using the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Toolbox, which includes seven tests designed to measure different cognitive aspects. Reward sensitivity and punishment sensitivity were assessed by the Behavioral Inhibition System/Behavioral Activation System (BIS/BAS) scale. Through moderation analysis, we discovered significant interactions between fluid intelligence and reward sensitivity, between crystallized intelligence and reward sensitivity, as well as between crystallized intelligence and punishment sensitivity, in relation to children’s prosocial behavior. Specifically, at low level of reward sensitivity, high level of fluid or crystallized intelligence was associated with a greater likelihood of engaging in prosocial behavior compared to low level. However, when reward sensitivity or punishment sensitivity was at high level, high level of crystallized intelligence was related to decreased prosocial behavior. These findings indicated that the relationship between children’s intelligence and prosocial behavior could be influenced by reward sensitivity or punishment sensitivity.