Parent-Adolescent Dyads' Efficacy, Coping, Depression, and Adolescent Health Risks

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Family Studies
• Health Behavior

Background:

• Efficacy beliefs may protect children from risky behaviors, but parent-child coping and efficacy links are unclear.
• This study investigates the associations between parent-adolescent coping patterns and various psychological and familial factors.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the relationships between parent-adolescent coping patterns and collective family efficacy, adolescent filial efficacy, parenting efficacy, family satisfaction, depressive symptoms, and perceived adolescent health risks.

Main Methods:

• 158 parent-adolescent dyads were surveyed using Bandura's efficacy framework.
• Data collected on coping, collective family efficacy, filial efficacy, parenting efficacy, family satisfaction, depressive symptoms, and perceived health risks.
• Statistical analyses included descriptive statistics, bivariate correlations, multiple regression, and path modeling.

Main Results:

• Spiritual coping was positively correlated in parent-adolescent dyads; other coping subscales were not.
• Adolescent collective family and filial efficacy positively related to overall coping.
• Family satisfaction protected adolescents from depressive symptoms; parenting efficacy and family satisfaction reduced perceived adolescent health risks.

Conclusions:

• Parental coping was collective-focused, while adolescent coping was individual-focused (venting, humor).
• Promoting parent-adolescent efficacy beliefs can improve coping, reduce depressive symptoms, and minimize health risks.
• Enhancing adolescents' collective coping (self-reliance, family problem-solving) within the family context is recommended, considering parental efficacy and emotional status.