Wing Yee Cheng1, Rebecca Y M Cheung2, Kevin Kien Hoa Chung3. 1. Centre for Child and Family Science, The Education University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China. 2. Department of Early Childhood Education, Centre for Child and Family Science, and Centre for Psychosocial Health, The Education University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China. Electronic address: rymcheung@eduhk.hk. 3. Department of Early Childhood Education and Centre for Child and Family Science, The Education University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Positive family interactions contribute to the development of social responsibility among adolescents. Interdependent self-construal and social trust, which reflect the perceived relatedness and beliefs towards others, may explain the relation between family cohesion and social responsibility. The present study tested the mediating mechanisms between family cohesion and adolescents' social responsibility via adolescents' interdependent self-construal and social trust. METHODS: A total of 386 Chinese children in Hong Kong (52.07% girls, Mage = 13.64 years) and their parents completed self-report questionnaires twice at 12 months apart. Family cohesion was measured by mothers', fathers', and adolescents' reports to provide a comprehensive representation of the family environment. A structural equation modeling was conducted to investigate the mediation effect. RESULTS: Findings based on structural equation modeling revealed that family cohesion was positively associated with interdependent self-construal and social trust. In addition, adolescents' interdependent self-construal and social trust were positively associated with social responsibility. Bootstrapping analysis showed that interdependent self-construal and social trust were mediators between family cohesion and social responsibility. CONCLUSION: Based on these findings, the study added new evidence to the literature by demonstrating the mediating role of interdependent self-construal and social trust between family cohesion and social responsibility. Future studies could examine potential cultural variabilities in Western and other Chinese contexts.
INTRODUCTION: Positive family interactions contribute to the development of social responsibility among adolescents. Interdependent self-construal and social trust, which reflect the perceived relatedness and beliefs towards others, may explain the relation between family cohesion and social responsibility. The present study tested the mediating mechanisms between family cohesion and adolescents' social responsibility via adolescents' interdependent self-construal and social trust. METHODS: A total of 386 Chinese children in Hong Kong (52.07% girls, Mage = 13.64 years) and their parents completed self-report questionnaires twice at 12 months apart. Family cohesion was measured by mothers', fathers', and adolescents' reports to provide a comprehensive representation of the family environment. A structural equation modeling was conducted to investigate the mediation effect. RESULTS: Findings based on structural equation modeling revealed that family cohesion was positively associated with interdependent self-construal and social trust. In addition, adolescents' interdependent self-construal and social trust were positively associated with social responsibility. Bootstrapping analysis showed that interdependent self-construal and social trust were mediators between family cohesion and social responsibility. CONCLUSION: Based on these findings, the study added new evidence to the literature by demonstrating the mediating role of interdependent self-construal and social trust between family cohesion and social responsibility. Future studies could examine potential cultural variabilities in Western and other Chinese contexts.