Links between social class and internet altruistic behavior among undergraduates: chain mediating role of moral identity and self-control

This study aimed to examine the chain mediating role of moral identity and self-control between social class and Internet altruistic behavior (IAB) in a sample of Chinese undergraduates. A total of 388 participants (Mage = 19.45, SD = 1.44, 43.81% males) completed the MacArthur Subjective Social Class Ladder, the Moral Identity Scale, the Brief Self-Control Scale and the IAB Scale. The results confirmed that social class could not only directly affect IAB, but also affect individuals’ IAB through three paths: The mediating role of moral identity, the mediating role of self-control, and the chain mediating role of moral identity and self-control after controlling for gender, age and weekly online time. These findings contribute to a deeper understanding of how social class affects IAB and provide important practical guidance for enhancing IAB.