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International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction

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01-04-2017 | Original Article

Economically Disadvantaged Adolescents’ Self-Concept and Academic Achievement as Mediators between Family Cohesion and Mental Health in Taiwan

Author: Fang-Hua Jhang

Published in: International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction | Issue 2/2017

Abstract

The study aims to examine whether social self-concept, physical appearance self-concept, and academic achievement mediate the relationship between family cohesion (FC) and mental health (MH) by employing structural equation modeling. The nationally representative sample consisted of 902 Taiwanese junior high school students from poor families. The mediation effect of changes in self-concept and academic achievement in the association between changes in FC and MH is also tested. Findings show that the effect of family cohesion on MH is partially mediated by both social self-concept and academic achievement, whereas a mediation effect of changes in achievement in the association between changes in FC and MH is insignificant. These results deepen the understanding of the relationship between FC, academic achievement, and MH for the poor adolescents in Confucian culture. Findings also suggest that improvements in the family relationship quality and appearance self-concept may protect against deteriorated MH problems in this developmental period.

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Title: Economically Disadvantaged Adolescents’ Self-Concept and Academic Achievement as Mediators between Family Cohesion and Mental Health in Taiwan
Author: Fang-Hua Jhang
Publication date: 01-04-2017
Publisher: Springer US
Published in: International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction / Issue 2/2017
Print ISSN: 1557-1874
Electronic ISSN: 1557-1882
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11469-017-9737-z

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Economically Disadvantaged Adolescents’ Self-Concept and Academic Achievement as Mediators between Family Cohesion and Mental Health in Taiwan

Abstract

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