Family Predictability and Psychological Wellness: Do Personal Predictability Beliefs Matter?

• Published in: Journal of child and family studies 2023-11, Vol.32 (11), p.3299-3311
• Main Authors: Ross, Lisa Thomson, Owensby, Audrey, Kolak, Amy M.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adults; Behavioral Science and Psychology; Beliefs; Child and School Psychology; Childhood; College students; Family of origin; Happiness; Life satisfaction; Locus of control; Love; Mental health; Moderation; Original Paper; Personal control; Positive psychology; Psychology; Resistance (Psychology); Social Sciences; Sociology
• ISSN: 1062-1024; 1573-2843
• DOI: 10.1007/s10826-022-02383-1

Recollection of family unpredictability in one’s childhood has been associated with depression and/or anxiety (Hood et al., 2019; Ross et al., 2016); however, it is unclear whether low levels of unpredictability are beneficial for our well-being. Following the positive psychology trend, the present study assessed whether less unpredictability (i.e., more predictability) is associated with mental health (life satisfaction, love of life, and happiness) in two samples, and whether these relationships relate to control and personal predictability beliefs. Among college students ( N  = 161), mental health correlated with more family predictability, weaker unpredictability beliefs, and more internality. In addition, we detected two moderation models in the student sample: stronger personal unpredictability beliefs dampened the relationship between family predictability and life satisfaction, and low internality intensified the relationship between low family predictability and love of life. In a separate study, adults ( N  = 220) with stronger mental health also reported more family predictability, weaker personal unpredictability beliefs, and internality. Beliefs regarding internality and personal unpredictability mediated the relationship between family unpredictability and both love of life and life satisfaction. Finally, regression analysis indicated a moderation, in that the combination of less family predictability and stronger unpredictability beliefs appears particularly detrimental for adults’ love of life. Taken together, one’s family of origin and current beliefs (that likely develop in the context of that family) relate to current mental health. We conclude with limitations and implications of our findings. Highlights College students and adults who recall more family predictability while growing up reported better mental health. Mental health was defined by higher scores on measures of life satisfaction, love of life, and happiness. Stronger beliefs about one’s own life and internal locus of control moderated some of these associations among students and adults.