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Parental Communication and Life Satisfaction in Adolescence

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 December 2014

María-Jesús Cava ,
Sofía Buelga  and
Gonzalo Musitu
María-Jesús Cava*
Affiliation:
Universidad de Valencia (Spain)
Sofía Buelga
Affiliation:
Universidad de Valencia (Spain)
Gonzalo Musitu
Affiliation:
Universidad Pablo de Olavide (Spain)
*
*Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to María-Jesús Cava. Departamento de Psicologia Social. Facultad de Psicología. Universidad de Valencia. Avda. Blasco Ibañez, 21. 46010. Valencia (Spain). E-mail: Maria.J.Cava@uv.es
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Abstract

This study aims to analyze the influence of communication with the mother and father on adolescents’ life satisfaction, as well as possible indirect effects through self-esteem, feelings of loneliness, and perceived classroom environment. These relationships, and possible gender differences, were analyzed in a sample of 1,795 adolescents (52% male, 48% female) aged 11 to 18 years-old (M = 14.2, SD = 1.68), using structural equation modeling. Results indicate a direct effect of communication-mother (girls: β = .19, p < .001; boys: β = .16, p < .05) and communication-father (girls: β = .22, p < .001; boys: β = .17, p < .05) on adolescent life satisfaction; and also indirect effects through self-esteem (communication-mother: girls, β = .18, p < .01; boys: β = .19, p < .05; communication-father: girls: β = .28, p < .001; boys: β = .27, p < .01) and feelings of loneliness (communication-mother: girls: β = -.19, p < .01; boys: β = -.21, p < .05; communication-father: girls: β = -.31, p < .001; boys: β = -.20, p < .01). The results and implications of this study are discussed.

Keywords

familycommunicationlife satisfactionadolescence
Type
Research Article
Information
The Spanish Journal of Psychology , Volume 17 , 2014 , E98
Copyright
Copyright © Universidad Complutense de Madrid and Colegio Oficial de Psicólogos de Madrid 2014 

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