Abstract
The aim of this study was to provide a better understanding of the mechanisms underlying the relationships between family connectedness, coping strategies, and stress-triggering problems in adolescents. To this end, it longitudinally examined the relationships between these three phenomena in a sample of New Zealand adolescents. Data were the three waves of the Youth Connectedness Project, in which 1,774 adolescents aged 10–17 completed a self-report survey three times at one-year intervals. Using random intercept longitudinal mediation path models, we tested whether and to what extent different coping strategies at T2 functioned as mediators between family connectedness at T1 and stress-triggering problems at T3. As predicted, statistical analyses indicated that family connectedness negatively predicted stress-triggering problems over time, and we found that maladaptive coping, but not adaptive coping, significantly mediated this relationship. This result suggests that family connectedness predicted a reduction in maladaptive coping one year later, and this lower level of maladaptation predicted a reduction in stress-triggering problems a subsequent year later. These and other related findings are important as they highlight several mechanisms shaping unfolding problematic situations experienced by adolescents. Contributions of the results to the existing body of knowledge about adolescents’ stress and coping strategies are discussed, as well as their clinical implications for the prevention or reduction of stress experienced by adolescents.
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Data Availability
The data that support the findings of this study are available from the second author, P.J, upon request.
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The Youth Connectedness Project received a 5-year grant from Foundation for Research, Science and Technology, New Zealand.
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CG performed the literature review, drafted the manuscript, and performed most of the statistical analyses; PJ created the research design, collected the data, and assisted in the data analysis. Both authors contributed to the writing of the final version, and read and approved the final manuscript.
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Gervais, C., Jose, P. Relationships Between Family Connectedness and Stress-Triggering Problems Among Adolescents: Potential Mediating Role of Coping Strategies. Res Child Adolesc Psychopathol 52, 237–251 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10802-023-01122-4
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10802-023-01122-4