Family dysfunction and anxiety in adolescents: A moderated mediation model of self-esteem and perceived school stress. (August 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Guo, Leilei; Tian, Lili; Scott Huebner, E.
• Is Part Of: Journal of school psychology. Volume 69(2018)
• Page Start: 16
• Page End: 27
• Publication Date: 2018-08
• Subjects: Anxiety -- Family dysfunction -- Moderated mediation model -- Adolescents; School psychologists -- Periodicals; School psychology -- Periodicals; Psychology -- Periodicals; School Health Services -- Periodicals; Psychologues scolaires -- Périodiques; Child psychology -- Periodicals; Psychologie scolaire -- Périodiques; Onderwijspsychologie; School psychologists; School psychology; Periodicals; 155.405
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jsp.2018.04.002
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0022-4405

Abstract

Abstract: This 18-month longitudinal study examined a moderated mediation model addressing the psychosocial mechanisms that account for the association between family dysfunction and anxiety. A sample of 847 Chinese early adolescents ( M age = 12.96 years, SD = 0.67) completed questionnaires assessing family dysfunction, self-esteem, perceived school stress, and anxiety on three occasions at 6-month intervals. After gender and socioeconomic status were included as covariates, the results revealed that family dysfunction was significantly associated with adolescents' anxiety. Moreover, self-esteem partially mediated the relation between family dysfunction and anxiety, and perceived school stress moderated the mediation process in the family dysfunction to anxiety path and in the self-esteem to anxiety path. The findings suggested that both social contextual factors (e.g., family dysfunction and school stress) and self-system factors (e.g., low self-esteem) are risk factors for increased anxiety levels in adolescents. Limitations and practical applications of the study were discussed.