Relationship among family functioning, positive and negative affect in male prisoners: mediator of neuroticism and self-acceptance

Abstract

Objective To explore the relationship among family functioning, positive and negative affect in male prisoners, in which the mediating effect of neuroticism and self-acceptance. Methods 315 male prisoners were surveyed with Family APGAR Index, Positive and Negative Affect Scale, Neurotism Scale, and the Self Acceptance Questionnaire.To compare positive and negative affect, neuroticism and self-acceptance of male prisoners in different family functioning groups.In addition, structural equation modeling was established among above mentioned variables. Results (1) Male prisoners in the worst family functioning group showed significant difference(P<0.05) in positive affect (26.31±6.55), neuroticism (14.23±5.11) and self-acceptance (40.58±4.31) with those in the good family functioning group ((29.88±6.48), (11.49±4.89), (42.77±4.97)) and those in the worse family functioning group ((29.80±4.49), (12.91±4.58), (42.39±5.54)). (2) Male prisoners' family functioning was significantly related to positive affect (r=0.28), neuroticism (r=-0.30) and self-acceptance (r=0.20) (P<0.01). Negative affect was significantly related to neuroticism (r=-0.25) and self-acceptance (r=0.39) (P<0.01). (3) Neuroticism and self-acceptance played a chain mediating effect between family functioning and positive affect (P<0.01). Neuroticism also played mediating effects between family functioning and negative affect as well as between family functioning and self-acceptance (P<0.01). Conclusion Family functioning, neuroticism and self-acceptance have significant predictive power for male prisoners' positive and negative affect. To improve family functioning of male prisoners is conductive to personality formation and self-acceptance, furthermore, expressing positive emotion experience. Key words: Family functioning; Emotion; Neuroticism; Self-acceptance; Male prisoners