Accessibility navigation


Family risks and adolescent adjustment in Chinese contexts: testing the mediating role of emotional intelligence

Cheung, R. Y. M. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0998-7991, Leung, M. C., Chung, K. K. H. and Cheung, H. Y. (2018) Family risks and adolescent adjustment in Chinese contexts: testing the mediating role of emotional intelligence. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 27 (12). pp. 3887-3896. ISSN 1573-2843

Full text not archived in this repository.

It is advisable to refer to the publisher's version if you intend to cite from this work. See Guidance on citing.

To link to this item DOI: 10.1007/s10826-018-1233-y

Abstract/Summary

The present study tested the mediating role of adolescents’ emotional intelligence for the effects of family risks on adolescent adjustment in two Chinese settings, namely Hong Kong and Macau. A total of 804 Chinese adolescents (36.3% female) in Hong Kong (n = 441) and Macau (n = 363) completed a set of self-reported questionnaires. Findings based on path analysis suggested that economic stress was positively associated with family conflict. In addition, family risks including economic stress and family conflict were inversely associated with adolescents’ emotional intelligence and prosocial behaviors, and positively associated with both internalizing and externalizing problems. Bootstrapping supported emotional intelligence as a mediating mechanism between family risks and adolescent adjustment, as indexed by their prosocial behaviors, internalizing problems, and externalizing problems. Multi-group path analysis further demonstrated gender similarities in the risk and protective processes underlying adolescent adjustment. Extending the findings based on studies conducted in Western contexts, the present research indicated the detrimental effects of family stressors, including economic stress and family conflict, on adolescent functioning in Hong Kong and Macau. Findings contributed to the growing literature that delineates risk and protective processes underlying adjustment outcomes in Chinese adolescents.

Item Type:Article
Refereed:Yes
Divisions:No Reading authors. Back catalogue items
ID Code:107960
Publisher:Springer Nature

University Staff: Request a correction | Centaur Editors: Update this record

Page navigation