The relation of family functioning to adolescent psychological well-being, school adjustment, and problem behavior

J Genet Psychol. 1997 Dec;158(4):467-79. doi: 10.1080/00221329709596683.

Abstract

The association between family functioning and adolescent adjustment was examined in 429 Chinese adolescents via children's and parents' reports. The ratings obtained from the different sources indicated that family functioning was significantly related to measures of (a) adolescent psychological well-being (general psychiatric morbidity, life satisfaction, purpose in life, hopelessness, and self-esteem), (b) school adjustment (perceived academic performance and school conduct), and (c) problem behavior (smoking and abusing psychotropic drugs). The findings suggest that there is an intimate link between family functioning and the psychosocial adjustment, particularly the positive mental health, of Chinese adolescents.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Achievement*
  • Adolescent
  • Child
  • China / ethnology
  • Cohort Studies
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Family Health*
  • Female
  • Hong Kong / epidemiology
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Mental Disorders / epidemiology
  • Mental Health*
  • Personal Satisfaction
  • Psychology, Adolescent*
  • Sampling Studies
  • Self Concept
  • Smoking / epidemiology
  • Social Adjustment*
  • Substance-Related Disorders / epidemiology