Adolescent Appraisals of Family Security as a Mediator of the Effect of Family Instability on Adolescent Self-Esteem

The aim of this two-wave study was to examine the mediating role of adolescent appraisals of family security in the relation between family instability and adolescent self-esteem in a sample of 377 adolescents and their mothers. Mothers' reports of family instability at Time 1 were significantl...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Društvena istraživanja 2014-01, Vol.23 (1), p.47-66
Main Author: Merkas, Marina
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adolescent Development
Adolescents
Child development
Families & family life
Family
Home Environment
Mothers
Ombudsman
Psychology
Security
Self Esteem
Structural Models
Teenagers
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Summary:The aim of this two-wave study was to examine the mediating role of adolescent appraisals of family security in the relation between family instability and adolescent self-esteem in a sample of 377 adolescents and their mothers. Mothers' reports of family instability at Time 1 were significantly and positively associated with adolescent appraisals of family insecurity at Time 1 and Time 2. Adolescent self-esteem at Time 2 was significantly and negatively related to family instability at T1 and family insecurity at Time 1 and Time 2. Findings from structural equation models supported the hypothesis that family instability undermines adolescents' self-esteem one year later by directly threatening adolescents' appraisals of family as a safe and secure system. The results indicated that adolescent appraisals fully mediated the relation between family instability and adolescent self-esteem. The implications of the findings for adolescent development in a secure and stable family environment are discussed and suggestions for further process-oriented research on the relation between family instability and adolescent development are stated.
ISSN:1330-0288
1848-6096
DOI:10.5559/di.23.1.03