Family Functioning, Personal Identity and Problem Behavior in Adolescence

Subject Areas : روان درمانگری

Zohreh Majdabadi Farahani ¹ , Valiollah Farzad ² , Mehrnaz Shahraray ³ , Alireza Moradi ⁴

1 - PhD , PhD Payam-e-Noor University
2 - PhD Tarbiat Moallem University
3 - PhD Tarbiat Moallem Universit
4 - PhD Tarbiat Moallem University

Received: 2015-06-03 Accepted : 2015-06-03 Published : 2011-03-21

Keywords: Adolescence, personal identity, family functioning problem behavior, mediation,

Abstract :

the purpose of this research was to examine the role of identity in the relationship between family functioning and problem behavior in a sample of 300 (150 females, 150 males) second year middle school students. Family functioning was operationalized in terms of parent-adolescent communication, parental involvement and positive parenting. Problem behavior was operationalized in terms of aggressive behavior, rule breaking behavior, and attention problems. Structural equation models indicated that 22% of the total (direct and indirect) relationships between family functioning and problem behavior operated through identity variables, and identity confusion partially mediated the relationship between family functioning and early adolescent problem behavior. The present findings suggested that both family functioning and identity may play important roles in directing young adolescents toward or away from problem behavior. Implications for intervention were discussed.