Family functioning and adolescent self-concept clarity: The mediating roles of balanced time perspective and depression

Abstract

Previous research has found that family factors predict adolescents' self-concept development, but few studies have described the mechanisms underlying the relationship. We conducted a cross-sectional (Study 1) and longitudinal study (Study 2) to examine the association between family functioning and adolescents' self-concept clarity (SCC). In Study 1 (N = 2767), we explored the mediating roles of balanced time perspective (BTP) and depression through a cross-sectional multiple mediating model. In Study 2 (N = 794), two longitudinal models were constructed to verify the longitudinal mediating relationship between family functioning, BTP, depression, and SCC. The results of both studies supported our hypothesis: Adolescents with better family functioning have higher BTP levels, experience less depression, and are more likely to develop an explicit self-concept. The studies reveal the influencing mechanism of ‘Environment–Personality–Cognition–Self’, deepening the research on the relationship between family factors, personality development, mental health and adolescent self exploration.