Theory of mind (ToM) and empathy are two major influencers of prosocial behavior (PsB). Some scholars hold that children with advanced ToM and high capacity for empathy are more likely to act prosocially, but the empirical findings are mixed. To clarify the relation between ToM/empathy and PsB, we conducted two meta-analysis of cross-sectional and longitudinal studies that met appropriate inclusion criteria. In study 1, a total of 24 studies including 16, 265 participants aged 2 ~ 19 years were identified as eligible for inclusion, and 88 effect sizes for ToM-PsB were yielded. The results showed that there was a significant positive correlation between PsB and ToM (r = 0.24, 95%CI [0.18, 0.31]). Age, PsB measurement method and the cultural background had no significant moderating effect on the relationship between ToM and PsB. The ToM measurement method played a borderline significant role in moderating the relationship between ToM and PsB. In study 2, a total of 29 studies including 23, 304 participants aged 2 ~ 19 years were identified as eligible for inclusion, and 89 effect sizes for empathy-PsB were yielded. The results showed that there was a significant positive correlation between PsB and empathy (r = 0.36, 95%CI [0.30, 0.41]). Age, the measurement methods of PsB and the cultural background moderated the relationship between empathy and PsB. In conclusion, the studies integrate previous researches on the correlations between ToM/empathy and PsB, explores the causes of inconsistency (i.e., the test of moderating variables), and verifies the important role of social understanding (ToM/empathy) in PsB.

心理理论（ToM）和同理心是亲社会行为（PsB）的两个主要影响因素。一些学者认为，具有高级思维能力和高同理心能力的儿童更有可能采取亲社会行为，但实证结果好坏参半。为了阐明 ToM/同理心和 PsB 之间的关系，我们对符合适当纳入标准的横断面和纵向研究进行了两项荟萃分析。在研究 1 中，共有 24 项研究（包括 16 项、265 名 2 岁至 19 岁的参与者）被确定为符合纳入条件，并得出了 88 个 ToM-PsB 效应量。结果显示，PsB与ToM之间存在显着正相关（r  =0.24，95%CI[0.18，0.31]）。年龄、PsB测量方法和文化背景对ToM和PsB的关系没有显着调节作用。ToM 测量方法在调节 ToM 和 PsB 之间的关系方面发挥了重要作用。在研究 2 中，共有 29 项研究（包括 23, 304 名 2 ~ 19 岁的参与者）被确定为符合纳入条件，并得出了 89 个共情-PsB 效应量。结果显示，PsB与同理心呈显着正相关（r  =0.36，95%CI[0.30，0.41]）。年龄、PsB 测量方法和文化背景调节共情与 PsB 的关系。总之，研究整合了以往关于ToM/共情与PsB之间相关性的研究，探讨了不一致的原因（即调节变量的检验），并验证了社会理解（ToM/共情）在PsB中的重要作用。