Psychological Development and Education ›› 2025, Vol. 41 ›› Issue (5): 701-709.doi: 10.16187/j.cnki.issn1001-4918.2025.05.10

Previous Articles     Next Articles

The Influence of Family Function on Adolescents’ Depression and Social Anxiety: The Mediating Role of Belief in a Just World

TANG Jiayi, FU Chengyu, XU Wei   

  1. Beijing Key Laboratory of Applied Experimental Psychology, National Demonstration Center for Experimental Psychology Education (Beijing Normal University), Faculty of Psychology, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875
  • Published:2025-09-15

RichHTML

PDF (PC)

Abstract: Previous studies rarely examined the mechanism how family function affects adolescents' emotional problems through the perspectives of cognitive beliefs. In order to explore the role of belief in a just world in this process, a sample of 845 students, drawing from grades 8 and 11 of a middle school in Chongqing, was investigated in a six-month longitudinal study. At baseline(T1), the Family Intimacy and Family Adaptability Scale (FACES II-CV) was used to measure their family function. Depression and social anxiety levels were measured by the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) and the Social Phobia and Anxiety Inventory-Brief form (SPAI-B), respectively; After 6 months(T2), the Belief in a Just World Scale (BJWS) was employed to assess the participants’ belief in a just world, and depression and social anxiety levels were measured again. The results showed that family function at T1 was positively associated with belief in a just world at T2, and both were negatively correlated with emotional problems at T2. Moreover, the belief in a just world at T2 mediated the relationship between family function at T1 and emotional problems at T2, indicating that family function may mitigate depressive and social anxiety symptoms in adolescents through enhancing their belief in a just world.

Key words: family function, belief in a just world, depression, social anxiety, adolescents

CLC Number: 

  • B844
Bandura, A. (1978). The self system in reciprocal determinism.American Psychologist, 33(4), 344. https://doi.org/10.1037/0003-066X.33.4.344
Bartholomaeus, J., & Strelan, P. (2019). The adaptive, approach-oriented correlates of belief in a just world for the self: A review of the research. Personality and Individual Differences, 151, 109485. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2019.06.028
B`egue, L. (2002). Beliefs in justice and faith in people: Just world, religiosity and interpersonal trust.Personality and Individual Differences, 32(3), 375-382.
Bronfenbrenner, U. (1992). Ecological Systems Theory. In R. Vasta (Ed.), Six theories of child development: Revised formulations and current issues (pp. 187-249). Jessica Kingsley Publishers.
Dalbert, C. (2002). Beliefs in a just world as a buffer against anger.Social Justice Research, 15(2), 123-145.
Dalbert, C., Lipkus, I. M., Sallay, H., & Goch, I. (2001). A just and an unjust world: Structure and validity of different world beliefs. Personality and Individual Differences, 30(4), 561-577.
Dardas, L.A. (2019). Family functioning moderates the impact of depression treatment on adolescents' suicidal ideations.Child and Adolescent Mental Health, 24(3), 251-258.
Demaray, M. K., Malecki, C. K., Davidson, L. M., Hodgson, K. K., & Rebus, P. J. (2005). The relationship between social support and student adjustment: A longitudinal analysis. Psychology in the Schools, 42(7), 691-706.
Ellis, A. (1991).The revised ABC's of rational-emotive therapy (RET). Journal of Rational-emotive and Cognitive-behavior Therapy, 9(3), 139-172.
Ferro, M. A., & Boyle, M. H. (2015). The impact of chronic physical illness, maternal depressive symptoms, family functioning, and self-esteem on symptoms of anxiety and depression in children. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 43(1), 177-187.
Freed, R. D., Rubenstein, L. M., Daryanani, I., Olino, T. M., & Alloy, L. B. (2016). The relationship between family functioning and adolescent depressive symptoms: The role of emotional clarity. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 45(3), 505-519.
Gorostiaga, A., Aliri, J., Balluerka, N., & Lameirinhas, J. (2019). Parenting styles andinternalizing symptoms in adolescence: A systematic literature review. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 16(17), 3192. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph16173192
Hafer, C. L., Busseri, M. A., Rubel, A. N., Drolet, C. E., & Cherrington, J. N. (2020). Alatent factor approach to belief in a just world and its association with well-being. Social Justice Research, 33(1), 1-17. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11211-019-00342-8
Harold, G. T., Osborne, L. N., & Conger, R. D. (1997). Mom and dad are at it again: Adolescent perceptions of marital conflict and adolescent psychological distress. Developmental Psychology, 33(2), 333-350.
Hofer, J., & Spengler, B. (2020). How negative parenting might hamper identity development: Spontaneous aggressiveness and personal belief in a just world. Self and Identity, 19(2), 117-139.
Jefferies, P., & Ungar, M. (2020). Social anxiety in youngpeople: A prevalence study in seven countries. PLoS ONE, 15(9), e0239133. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0239133
Kiral Ucar, G., Hasta, D., & Kaynak Malatyali, M. (2019). The mediating role of perceived control and hopelessness in the relation between personal belief in a just world and life satisfaction.Personality and Individual Differences, 143, 68-73.
Lerner, M. J., & Miller, D. T. (1978). Just world research and the attribution process: Looking back and ahead. Psychological Bulletin, 85(5), 1030-1051.
Li, K., Ren, L., Zhang, L., Liu, C., Zhao, M., Zhan, X., … Feng, Z. (2023). Social anxiety and depression symptoms in Chinese left-behind children after the lifting of COVID-19 lockdown: A network analysis.International Journal of Social Psychiatry, 69(4), 916-927.
Lu, C., Yuan, L., Lin, W., Zhou, Y., & Pan, S. (2017). Depression and resilience mediates the effect of family function on quality of life of the elderly. Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics, 71, 34-42.
Mohammadi, F. M., & Moradi, K. (2018). The study of family function and social anxiety: The mediating role of dysfunctional beliefs and social skills. Biannual Journal of Applied Counseling, 8(1), 97-114.
Nomura, Y., Wickramaratne, P. J., Warner, V., Mufson, L., & Weissman, M. M. (2002). Family discord, parental depression and psychopathology in offspring: Ten-year follow-up.Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 41(4), 402-409.
Okorodudu, G. N. (2010).Influence of parenting styles on adolescents’ delinquency in delta central senatorial district. Edo Journal of Counselling, 36(1), 58-86.
Olson, D. H. (2000). Circumplex model of marital and family systems. Journal of Family Therapy, 22(2), 144-167.
Olson, D. H., & Gorall, D. M. (2003). Circumplex model of marital and family systems. In F. Walsh (Ed.),Normal family processes: Growing diversity and complexity (3rd ed., pp. 514-548). The Guilford Press.
Olson, D. H., Russell, C. S., & Sprenkle, D. H. (1983). Circumplex model of marital and family systems: Vl. theoretical update. Family Process, 22(1), 69-83.
Otto, K., Boos, A., Dalbert, C., Schöps, D., & Hoyer, J. (2006). Posttraumatic symptoms, depression, and anxiety of flood victims: The impact of the belief in a just world. Personality and Individual Differences, 40(5), 1075-1084.
Ozer, E.J., Lavi, I., Douglas, L., & Wolf, J.P. (2017).Protective factors for youth exposed to violence in their communities: A review of family, school, and community moderators. Journal of Clinical Child & Adolescent Psychology, 46(3), 353-378.
Paclikova, K., Veselska, Z. D., Bobakova, D. F., Palfiova, M., & Geckova, A. M. (2019). What role do family composition and functioning play in emotional and behavioural problems among adolescent boys and girls? International Journal of Public Health, 64(2), 209-217.
Peleg-Popko, O., & Dar, R. (2001). Marital quality, family patterns, and children's fears and social anxiety.Contemporary Family Therapy, 23(4), 465-487.
Quan, S., Li, M., Yang, X., Song, H., & Wang, Z. (2022). Perceived parental emotional warmth and prosocial behaviors among emerging adults: Personal belief in a just world and gratitude as mediators. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 31(4), 1019-1029.
Rabinowitz, J. A., Osigwe, I., Drabick, D. A. G., & Reynolds, M. D. (2016). Negative emotional reactivity moderates the relations between family cohesion and internalizing and externalizing symptoms in adolescence. Journal of Adolescence, 53(1), 116-126.
Rueger, S. Y., Malecki, C. K., & Demaray, M. K. (2010). Relationship between multiple sources of perceived social support and psychological and academic adjustment in early adolescence: Comparisons across gender. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 39(1), 47-61.
Sander, J. B., & McCarty, C. A. (2005). Youth depression in the family context: Familial risk factors and models of treatment.Clinical Child and Family Psychology Review, 8(3), 203-219.
Shek, D. T. L. (2002). Family functioning and psychological well-being, school adjustment, and problem behavior in Chinese adolescents with and without economic disadvantage.The Journal of Genetic Psychology, 163(4), 497-502.
Shorey, S., Ng, E. D., & Wong, C. H. (2022). Global prevalence of depression and elevated depressive symptoms among adolescents: A systematic review and meta-analysis. British Journal of Clinical Psychology, 61(2), 287-305.
Umemura, T., & Šerek, J. (2016). Different developmental pathways from parental warmth to adolescents’ trust in peers and politicians: Mediating roles of adolescent-parent attachment and belief in a just world.Social Justice Research, 29(2), 186-205.
Wang, H., Wang, Y., Nie, J., & Lei, L. (2021). Family socioeconomic status and internet altruistic behavior among Chinese adolescents: The mediating effect of personal belief in a just world and emotional intelligence. Children and Youth Services Review, 121, 105841. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2020.105841
Xiong, M., Chen, J., & Johnson, W. (2022). Relative deprivation and social anxiety among Chinese migrant children: Testing a moderated mediation model of perceived control and belief in a just world. Journal of Health Psychology, 27(11), 2581-2602.
Yee, N. Y., & Sulaiman, W. S. W. (2017). Resilience as mediator in the relationship between family functioning and depression among adolescents from single parent families. Akademika, 87(1), 111-122.
Yen, C. F., Yang, P., Wu, Y. Y., & Cheng, C. P. (2013). The relation between family adversity and social anxiety among adolescents in Taiwan: Effects of family function and self-esteem. The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease, 201(11), 964-970.
Ying, L., Shuang, Z., & Jia, X. (2022). Peer attachment and self-esteem mediate the relationship between family function and social anxiety in migrant children in China. Child: Care, Health and Development, 49(3), 563-571.
Yu, X., Ren, G., Huang, S., & Wang, Y. (2018). Undergraduates’ belief in a just world and subjective well-being: The mediating role of sense of control.Social Behavior and Personality: An International Journal, 46(5), 831-840.
Zhang, C., Zhang, Q., Zhuang, H., & Xu, W. (2023). The reciprocal relationship between depression, social anxiety and aggression in Chinese adolescents: The moderating effects of family functioning. Journal of Affective Disorders, 329, 379-384.
Zhang, Z., & Zhang, J. (2015). Belief in a just world mediates the relationship between institutional trust and life satisfaction among the elderly in China. Personality and Individual Differences, 83, 164-169.
方晓义, 徐洁, 孙莉, 张锦涛. (2004). 家庭功能:理论、影响因素及其与青少年社会适应的关系. 心理科学进展, 12(4), 544-553.
费立鹏, 沈其杰, 郑延平, 赵靖平, 蒋少艾, 王立伟, 汪向东. (1991). “家庭亲密度和适应性量表”和 “家庭环境量表”的初步评价——正常家庭与精神分裂症家庭成员对照研究. 中国心理卫生杂志, 5(5), 198-202.
胡星辰, 张迎黎, 梁炜, 张红梅, 杨世昌. (2014). 病人健康问卷抑郁量表(PHQ-9)在青少年中应用的信效度检验. 四川精神卫生, 27(4), 357-360.
刘广增, 张大均, 朱政光, 李佳佳, 陈旭. (2020). 家庭社会经济地位对青少年问题行为的影响:父母情感温暖和公正世界信念的链式中介作用. 心理发展与教育, 36(2), 240-248.
刘丽, 张瑞雪, 刘堃. (2017). 中文版简化青少年社交焦虑量表信效度研究. 中国全科医学, 20(21), 2654-2659.
苏志强, 张大均, 王鑫强. (2012). 公正世界信念量表的修订及在大学生应用的信效度研究. 中华行为医学与脑科学杂志, 21(6), 561-563.
田媛, 宋友志, 周宗奎, 黄淳, 赵一倩. (2019). 青少年公正世界信念的发展轨迹及其影响因素:一项多水平分析. 心理发展与教育, 35(2), 146-156.
王恩娜, 张俊杰, 黄巧敏, 黄柳玥, 梁凯欣, 姜薇薇, … 迟新丽. (2022). 家庭功能与青少年问题行为的关系:一项交叉滞后研究. 中国临床心理学杂志, 30(4), 794-801.
温忠麟, 侯杰泰, 马什赫伯特. (2004). 结构方程模型检验:拟合指数与卡方准则. 心理学报, 36(2), 186-194.
徐洁, 方晓义, 张锦涛, 林丹华, 孙莉. (2008). 家庭功能对青少年情绪问题的作用机制. 心理发展与教育, 24(2), 79-85.
张红静. (2007). 大学生的家庭功能与其情绪及人格的相关分析. 山东师范大学学报(自然科学版), 22(2), 57-60.
赵改, 孔繁昌, 刘诏君, 冯雅萌, 黄声普, 王亚丹, 周宗奎. (2018). 父母情感温暖对青少年感恩的影响:责任心与公正世界信念的中介作用. 心理发展与教育, 34(3), 257-263.
张羽, 李玮玮, 罗玉晗, 华销嫣, 王耘. (2017). 家庭社会经济地位与父母教养方式对儿童青少年公正世界信念的影响. 心理发展与教育, 33(5), 513-523.
周浩, 龙立荣. (2004). 共同方法偏差的统计检验与控制方法. 心理科学进展, 12(6), 942-950.
[1] ZENG Zihao, HU Yiqiu, LIU Shuangjin, PENG Liyi, YANG Qin, WANG Hongcai, HE Zhen, YAO Xingxing. School Interpersonal Relationship and Cumulative Polygenic Genetic Risk of Serotonin System on Adolescent Depression [J]. Psychological Development and Education, 2025, 41(3): 436-447.
[2] YANG Ling, LI Na, ZHANG Yang, SHI Linping, ZHANG Mingfei, WU Jiangkun. Sensitivity and Attention Avoidance of Left Behind Adolescents to Negative Evaluation of Others [J]. Psychological Development and Education, 2025, 41(2): 185-195.
[3] GAO Yemiao, BAI Rong, LI Jinwen, WANG Hui, LIU Xia. The Longitudinal Effect of Harsh Parenting on Problem Behaviors of Left-behind Adolescents in Single-parent Custody [J]. Psychological Development and Education, 2025, 41(2): 245-255.
[4] ZENG Chengwei, ZHANG Bin, ZHANG Anqi, ZENG Yixin, DAI Huifeng, XIONG Sicheng, WANG Yanan, YANG Ying. Longitudinal Effects of School Connectedness on Adolescent Smartphone Addiction: The Mediation of Social Anxiety and Moderation of Parent-adolescent Attachment [J]. Psychological Development and Education, 2025, 41(2): 256-264.
[5] WANG Yulong, LI Rong, CHEN Huilin, LIN Xiuyun. Impact of Parental Conflict on Non-suicide Self-injury in Early Adolescence: Longitudinal Mediating Effects of Depression [J]. Psychological Development and Education, 2025, 41(2): 276-283.
[6] ZHOU Ziyan, HU Xiao, ZHANG Yilin, SU Ruilin, XIN Sufei, SHENG Liang. The Relationship between Negative Life Events and Internet Addiction in Junior Middle School Students: The Roles of Social Anxiety and Boredom Proneness [J]. Psychological Development and Education, 2025, 41(1): 109-116.
[7] WANG Enna, XIA Mengya, QU Diyang, ZHANG Junjie, LIANG Kaixin, XIAO Jialin, CHI Xinli. The Effect of Prototypical Family Functioning Trajectories on Junior High School Students’ Internet Addiction: The Mediating Role of Resilience [J]. Psychological Development and Education, 2024, 40(6): 853-864.
[8] ZHANG Ye, CHEN Jiahui, REN Ping, WANG Quanquan. The Relationship between Bullying Victimization and Non-suicidal Self-injury: The Mediating Role of Loneliness and the Moderating Role of Teacher Justice [J]. Psychological Development and Education, 2024, 40(6): 877-885.
[9] GONG Yuhan, YE Yingying, ZHOU Xiao. Effects of Abuse and Neglect on Depression in Adolescents: The Roles of Self-esteem and Self-disclosure [J]. Psychological Development and Education, 2024, 40(6): 886-893.
[10] ZHU Jingjing, ZHANG Zhenzhen, LI Yan. The Relation between Maternal Depression and Children’s Social Adjustment: The Mediating Roles of Maternal Distress Reaction and Parent-child Conflict [J]. Psychological Development and Education, 2024, 40(5): 675-686.
[11] LI Wenhui, WANG Jiale, ZU Jing, LI Chan. An Analysis of Cross-lagged on the Relationship between Social Anxiety, Self-control and Loneliness of Primary School Students [J]. Psychological Development and Education, 2024, 40(5): 687-694.
[12] WANG Lingxiao, GUO Mingyu, XU Junyan, CHANG Shumin. The Longitudinal Relationship between Peer Rejection and Externalizing Behaviors in Adolescents: School Assets and Gender as Moderators [J]. Psychological Development and Education, 2024, 40(5): 695-705.
[13] HONG Defan, XU Yijie, HU Qian, ZHANG Jiaying, HUANG Yingying, MAO Ran, CHEN Jing, JIANG Suo. Bullying Victimization and Suicide Ideation among Adolescents: Based on Latent Moderated Structural Equation [J]. Psychological Development and Education, 2024, 40(5): 706-719.
[14] ZHANG Huiru, ZHU Haidong, JIA Xiaoshan, MA Chao. The Influence of Subjective Social Status on Adolescents’ Prosocial Risk-taking Behavior: A Regulated Chain Mediation Model [J]. Psychological Development and Education, 2024, 40(4): 488-498.
[15] LI Xi, ZHANG Pengcheng, WANG Haibin. The Effects of Parent-child Relationship on Depression among Rural Primary and Secondary School Boarders: Analyses Based on Variable Center and Person Center [J]. Psychological Development and Education, 2024, 40(4): 524-532.
Viewed
Full text


Abstract

Cited
  Shared   
  Discussed   
No Suggested Reading articles found!
Copyright 2018 © Editorial office of Psychological Development and Education
Supported by Beijing Magtech Co.Ltd