The present study aimed at creating a framework in order to decompose the link between age and altruism, as it was identified by past research, into its underlying factors. Five potential factors were suggested, particularly generativity, goal orientation towards growth, future time perspective and future self-continuity (for a temporal distance of 6 months and 10 years). In an online survey, participants of young, medium and older age completed a continuous measure of future self-continuity, a Dictator Game to determine altruism, a short task related to goal orientation and a short questionnaire related to generativity and future time perspective. Furthermore, demographic characteristics of the participants were recorded. The resulting data was tested for significant indirect effects of the proposed variables on the effect of age on altruism in a multiple mediation analysis, using bias-corrected confidence intervals. No significant mediation effects could be identified, however, results are not to be considered concluding, due to several limitations like selection effects, self-reporting bias and a limited incentive structure. Recommendations for future research were given.

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P. van Bruggen
hdl.handle.net/2105/49483
Business Economics
Erasmus School of Economics

D.A. Wiegand. (2019, November 8). Decomposing the Effect of Age on Altruism. Business Economics. Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/2105/49483