The relationship between perceived family environment and psychological wellbeing: Mother, father, and adolescent reports

Previous research has established a link between adolescents' self-reported levels of wellbeing and their perceptions of family environment. In partic ular, family environments described as being high in control and conflict b ut low in cohesion have been related with low self-esteem and high depressi on. The present study represents an extension of research in this area. Dat a comprise reports from a sample of 42 nonclinical adolescents and their tw o biological parents. Participants individually completed self-reported mea sures of self-esteem, depression, and family environment. The present resul ts largely confirmed the link between adolescents' self-reported levels of wellbeing and family environment and contribute to knowledge in the area in two important ways. Firstly, given that previous research findings have be en limited by single-informant data, the multiple-informant design of this study provides some insight into possible reporter bias. The present approa ch demonstrated significant levels of consistency in reports of family envi ronment across family members. These results thereby provide some validity evidence for adolescent reports of family environment. Secondly, the presen t findings point to the father's wellbeing as a significant correlate of ad olescent wellbeing, thereby highlighting a need to include information abou t fathers in any Mure related research.