Hostname: page-component-f554764f5-44mx8 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2025-04-17T15:02:14.247Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Parental Communication and Life Satisfaction in Adolescence

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 December 2014

María-Jesús Cava ,
Sofía Buelga  and
Gonzalo Musitu
María-Jesús Cava*
Affiliation:
Universidad de Valencia (Spain)
Sofía Buelga
Affiliation:
Universidad de Valencia (Spain)
Gonzalo Musitu
Affiliation:
Universidad Pablo de Olavide (Spain)
*
*Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to María-Jesús Cava. Departamento de Psicologia Social. Facultad de Psicología. Universidad de Valencia. Avda. Blasco Ibañez, 21. 46010. Valencia (Spain). E-mail: [email protected]
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

This study aims to analyze the influence of communication with the mother and father on adolescents’ life satisfaction, as well as possible indirect effects through self-esteem, feelings of loneliness, and perceived classroom environment. These relationships, and possible gender differences, were analyzed in a sample of 1,795 adolescents (52% male, 48% female) aged 11 to 18 years-old (M = 14.2, SD = 1.68), using structural equation modeling. Results indicate a direct effect of communication-mother (girls: β = .19, p < .001; boys: β = .16, p < .05) and communication-father (girls: β = .22, p < .001; boys: β = .17, p < .05) on adolescent life satisfaction; and also indirect effects through self-esteem (communication-mother: girls, β = .18, p < .01; boys: β = .19, p < .05; communication-father: girls: β = .28, p < .001; boys: β = .27, p < .01) and feelings of loneliness (communication-mother: girls: β = -.19, p < .01; boys: β = -.21, p < .05; communication-father: girls: β = -.31, p < .001; boys: β = -.20, p < .01). The results and implications of this study are discussed.

Keywords

familycommunicationlife satisfactionadolescence
Type
Research Article
Information
The Spanish Journal of Psychology , Volume 17 , 2014 , E98
Copyright
Copyright © Universidad Complutense de Madrid and Colegio Oficial de Psicólogos de Madrid 2014 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

Article purchase

Temporarily unavailable

References

Atienza, F. L., Pons, D., Balaguer, I., & García-Merita, M. (2000). Propiedades psicométricas de la escala de satisfacción con la vida en adolescentes [Psychometric properties of the satisfaction with life scale in adolescents]. Psicothema, 12, 314–320.Google Scholar
Barnes, H. L., & Olson, H. D. (1982). Parent-adolescent communication scale. In Olson, H. D. (Ed.), Family inventories (pp. 33–48). St. Paul, MN: University of Minnesota.Google Scholar
Bendayan, R., Blanca, M. J., Fernández-Baena, J. F., Escobar, M., & Trianes, M. V. (2013). New empirical evidence on the validity of the satisfaction with life scale in early adolescents. European Journal of Psychological Assessment, 29, 36–43. http://dx.doi.org/10.1027/1015-5759/a000118 Google Scholar
Bentler, P. M. (1995). EQS structural equations program manual. Encino, CA: Multivariate Software.Google Scholar
Buelga, S., Musitu, G., Murgui, S., & Pons, J. (2008). Reputation, loneliness, satisfaction with life and aggressive behavior in adolescence. The Spanish Journal of Psychology, 11, 192–200. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S1138741600004236 Google Scholar
Cava, M. J., Estévez, E., Buelga, S., & Musitu, G. (2013). Propiedades psicométricas de la Escala de Actitudes hacia la Autoridad Institucional en adolescentes [Psychometric properties of the Adolescent Attitutudes toward Institutional Authority scale] (AAI-A). Anales de Psicología, 29, 540–548.Google Scholar
Cava, M. J., Murgui, S., & Musitu, G. (2008). Diferencias en factores de protección del consumo de sustancias en la adolescencia temprana y media [Differences in protective factors from substance abuse in early- and mid-adolescence]. Psicothema, 29, 389–395.Google Scholar
Cava, M. J., Musitu, G., Buelga, S., & Murgui, S. (2010). The relationships of family and classroom environments with peer relational victimization: An analysis of their gender differences. The Spanish Journal of Psychology, 13, 156–165. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S1138741600003747 Google Scholar
Cohen, J. (1988). Statistical power analysis for the behavioral sciences (2 nd Ed.). Hillsdale, NJ: Lawrence Earlbaum Associates.Google Scholar
Diener, E., & Diener, M. (1995). Cross-cultural correlates in life satisfaction and self-esteem. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 68, 653–663. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037//0022-3514.68.4.653 Google Scholar
Diener, E., Emmons, R. A., Larsen, R. J., & Griffin, S. (1985). The Satisfaction with Life Scale. Journal of Personality Assessment, 49, 71–75. http://dx.doi.org/10.1207/s15327752jpa4901_13 Google Scholar
Estévez, E., Herrero, J., & Musitu, G. (2005). El rol de la comunicación familiar y del ajuste escolar en la salud mental del adolescente [The role of family communication and school adjustment in adolescent mental health]. Salud Mental, 28, 81–89.Google Scholar
Expósito, F., & Moya, M. C. (1999). Soledad y apoyo social [Loneliness and social support]. Revista de Psicología Social, 14, 297–316.Google Scholar
Fernández-Ballesteros, R., & Sierra, B. (1989). Escalas de clima social FES, WES, CIES y CES [The FES, WES, CIES and CES Social Environment Scales]. Madrid, Spain: TEA.Google Scholar
Garaigordobil, M., & Aliri, J. (2012). Parental socialization styles, parents’ educational level and sexist attitudes in adolescence. The Spanish Journal of Psychology, 15, 592–603. http://dx.doi.org/10.5209/rev_SJOP.2012.v15.n2.38870 Google Scholar
Koepke, S., & Denissen, J. J. A. (2012). Dynamics of identity development and separation – individuation in parent-child relationships during adolescence and emerging adulthood – a conceptual integration. Developmental Review, 32, 67–88. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.dr.2012.01.001 Google Scholar
Kong, F., & You, X. (2013). Loneliness and self-esteem as mediators between social support and life satisfaction in late adolescence. Social Indicators Research, 110, 271–279. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11205-011-9930-6 Google Scholar
Lerner, R. M. (2002). Concepts and theories of human development (3 rd Ed.), New Jersey, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.Google Scholar
Levin, K. A., Dallago, L., & Currie, C. (2012). The association between adolescent life satisfaction, family structure, family affluence and gender differences in parent-child communication. Social Indicators Research, 106, 287–305. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11205-011-9804-y Google Scholar
Ma, C. Q., & Huebner, E. S. (2008). Attachment relationships and adolescents’ life satisfaction: Some relationships matter more to girls than boys. Psychology in the Schools, 45, 177–190.Google Scholar
Martín-Albo, J., Nuñez, J. L., Navarro, J. G., & Grijalvo, F. (2007). The Rosenberg Self-esteem Scale: Translation and validation in university students. The Spanish Journal of Psychology, 10, 458–467.Google Scholar
Martínez-Antón, M., Buelga, S., & Cava, M. J. (2007). La satisfacción con la vida en la adolescencia y su relación con la autoestima y el ajuste escolar [Life satisfaction in adolescence and how it relates to self-esteem and school adjustment]. Anuario de Psicología, 38, 293–303.Google Scholar
Moos, R. H., & Trickett, E. J. (1973). Classroom Environment Scale manual. Palo Alto, CA: Consulting Psychologist Press.Google Scholar
Oberle, E., Schonert-Reichl, K. A., & Zumbo, B. D. (2011). Life satisfaction in early adolescence: Personal, neighborhood, school, family, and peer influences. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 40, 889–901. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10964-010-9599-1 Google Scholar
Parra, A., & Oliva, A. (2002). Comunicación y conflicto familiar durante la adolescencia [Family communication and conflict during adolescence]. Anales de Psicología, 18, 215–231.Google Scholar
Proctor, C. L., Linley, P. A., & Maltby, J. (2009). Youth life satisfaction: A review of the literature. Journal of Happiness Studies, 10, 583–630. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10902-008-9110-9 Google Scholar
Rosenberg, M. (1989). Society and the adolescent self-image (Rev. Ed.). Middeltown, CT: Wesleyan University Press.Google Scholar
Russell, D. W. (1996). UCLA Loneliness Scale (version 3): Reliability, validity, and factor structure. Journal of Personality Assessment, 66, 20–40. http://dx.doi.org/10.1207/s15327752jpa6601_2 Google Scholar
Santos, J., Muñoz, A., Juez, P., & Cortiñas, P. (2003). Diseño de encuestas de estudio de mercado. Técnicas de muestreo y análisis multivariante [Survey design in marketing research. Sampling techniques and multivariate analysis]. Madrid, Spain: Fundación Ramón Areces.Google Scholar
Stautz, K., & Cooper, A. (2013). Impulsivity-related personality traits and adolescent alcohol use: A meta-analytic review. Clinical Psychology Review, 33, 574–592. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cpr.2013.03.003 Google Scholar
Theokas, C., & Lerner, R. M. (2006). Observed ecological assets in families, schools, and neighborhoods: Conceptualizations, measurement, and relations with positive and negative developmental outcomes. Applied Developmental Science, 10, 61–74. http://dx.doi.org/10.1207/s1532480xads1002_2 Google Scholar
Valois, R. F., Zullig, K. J., Huebner, E. S., & Drane, J. W. (2009). Youth developmental assets and perceived life satisfaction. Is there a relationship? Applied Research on Quality of Life, 4, 315–331. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11482-009-9083-9 Google Scholar
Valera, M. R., Ávila, M. E., & Martínez, B. (2013). Violencia escolar: Un análisis desde los diferentes contextos de interacción [School violence: An analysis from different interaction contexts]. Psychosocial Intervention, 22, 25–32. http://dx.doi.org/10.5093/in2013a4 Google Scholar