Supervisors info:
Φρόσω Μόττη-Στεφανίδη, Καθηγήτρια Σχολικής Ψυχοδιαγνωστικής, Τμήμα Ψτχολογίας, Εθνικό και Καποδιστριακό Πανεπιστήμιο Αθηνών
Summary:
The goal of the present cross-sectional study was to investigate the relation between negative life events and adolescents' mental health, as well as the potential impact of family functioning and parenting on the aforementioned relationship. The first key question of this study is whether negative life events constitute a risk factor for mental health. The second key question is whether the studied dimensions of family functioning and parenting are promotive or/and protective factors under adverse life events, in relation to adolescents' mental health. The sample consists of 412 Greek adolescent students of 8th Grade from 12 Gymnasiums in the greater prefecture of Attica (Athens). Negative life events were assessed with the Life Events Questionnaire (Fthenakis & Minsel, 2002), depressive symptoms were assessed with the DEPS (Salokangas, Poutanen, & Stengârd, 2005), and self-esteem with the Self-Esteem Scale (Rosenberg, 1965). Dimensions of family functioning were assessed with the second edition of Family Adaptability and Cohesion Evaluation Scales (Olson, Portner, & Bell, 1982), while those of parenting were assessed with subscale Care of the Parental Bonding Instrument (Parker, Tupling, & Brown, 1979). Results show that negative life events constitute a potential risk factor, whereas each of the dimensions of family functioning and parenting, is found to be a potential promotive, but not a protective, factor, for both depressive symptoms and self-esteem. Lastly, important sex differences on depressive symptomatology, emerged.
Keywords:
negative/stressful life events, family functioning, parenting, mental health, adolescence