Supervisors info:
Φρόσω Μόττη-Στεφανίδη, Καθηγήτρια Σχολικής Ψυχοδιαγνωστικής, Εθνικό και Καποδιστριακό Πανεπιστήμιο Αθηνών
Summary:
The goal of the present cross-sectional study was to investigate the relation between economic hardship and adolescents’ mental health, as well as the potential role of the dimensions of family functioning and parenting on the aforementioned relationship. Specifically, this study tries to answer two sets of questions: a) does economic hardship consist a risk factor for mental health? b) do the studied dimensions of family functioning and parenting function as promotive or/and protective factors against the presence of economic hardship, in relation to adolescent’s mental health? The sample consisted of 412 Greek adolescent students of 8th Grade from 12 Gymnasiums in the greater prefecture of Attica (Athens). Poverty of the adolescents’ families was assessed with the Economic Hardship Questionnaire (Lempers, Clark-Lempers and Simons, 1989). Dimensions of family functioning were assessed with the second edition of Family Adaptability and Cohesion Evaluation Scales (Olson, Portner and Bell,1982), while those of parenting were assessed with the Psychological Control Scale-Youth Self-Report (Barber, 1996). Finally, emotional symptoms and conduct problems, as mental health indicators, were assessed with Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (Goodman, Meltzer και Bailey, 1998). Results of showed that economic hardship consist a potential risk factor, whereas each of the dimensions of family functioning and parenting, function as potential promotive, but not as protective factor for adolescents’ mental health. Finally, important sex differences on emotional symptoms, emerged.
Keywords:
economic hardship, family functioning, parenting, mental health, adolescence, resilience, developmental psychopathology
