Family-related adversity and positive youth development: the role of psychological distress, hopelessness and hostility
Abstract Background The family is a very important institution that provides relationships and contexts for adolescents and can activate a trajectory of their positive development. Family-related adversity can endanger this development via associated negative emotions, such as feelings of hopelessne...
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2025-07-01
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| Series: | BMC Psychology |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-025-03098-w |
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| author | Jaroslava Mackova Zuzana Dankulincova Veselska Daniela Filakovska Bobakova Andrea Madarasova Geckova Jitse P. van Dijk Sijmen A. Reijneveld |
| author_facet | Jaroslava Mackova Zuzana Dankulincova Veselska Daniela Filakovska Bobakova Andrea Madarasova Geckova Jitse P. van Dijk Sijmen A. Reijneveld |
| author_sort | Jaroslava Mackova |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background The family is a very important institution that provides relationships and contexts for adolescents and can activate a trajectory of their positive development. Family-related adversity can endanger this development via associated negative emotions, such as feelings of hopelessness, hostility, and psychological distress. Therefore, we aimed first to explore the association of family-related adversity with positive youth development (PYD), and second whether psychological distress, hopelessness, and hostility mediate this association. Methods We obtained self-reported data from 308 Slovak adolescents (44.5% were boys, mean age = 12.55). Family-related adversity was measured using questions regarding the death of parents, divorce/separation, violence between parents, and parental substance abuse. Positive youth development was measured with the Very Short PYD questionnaire; psychological distress with the GHQ-12; hopelessness with the Hopelessness questionnaire and hostility with a subscale from the Aggression Questionnaire. Results We found that family-related adversity was not associated with the first PYD component – internal values (regarding the domains of character and caring). However, it was negatively associated with its second component – self- and social efficacy (regarding the domains connection, competence and confidence): regression coefficient B= -0.32; 95%; confidence interval CI: -0.57 to -0.06). Next, we found that psychological distress (0.38; -0.50 to -0.26), hopelessness (-0.18; -0.31 to -0.05) and hostility (-0.23; -0.33 to -0.13) were associated with self- and social efficacy. Moreover, all potential mediators had statistically significant indirect effects: psychological distress − 0.11, hopelessness − 0.09 and hostility − 0.08. Conclusion These findings may provide suggestions for programs supporting adolescents from families in adversity. These could be directed at better coping with psychological distress and addressing hostility and hopelessness. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-48e2334ca262448bbabca074c01aca5c |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2050-7283 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Psychology |
| spelling | doaj-art-48e2334ca262448bbabca074c01aca5c2025-08-20T03:06:10ZengBMCBMC Psychology2050-72832025-07-0113111010.1186/s40359-025-03098-wFamily-related adversity and positive youth development: the role of psychological distress, hopelessness and hostilityJaroslava Mackova0Zuzana Dankulincova Veselska1Daniela Filakovska Bobakova2Andrea Madarasova Geckova3Jitse P. van Dijk4Sijmen A. Reijneveld5Department of Health Psychology and Research Methodology, Faculty of Medicine, PJ Safarik UniversityDepartment of Health Psychology and Research Methodology, Faculty of Medicine, PJ Safarik UniversityDepartment of Health Psychology and Research Methodology, Faculty of Medicine, PJ Safarik UniversityDepartment of Health Psychology and Research Methodology, Faculty of Medicine, PJ Safarik UniversityOlomouc University Social Health Institute, Palacky University in OlomoucDepartment of Community & Occupational Medicine, University Medical Center Groningen, University of GroningenAbstract Background The family is a very important institution that provides relationships and contexts for adolescents and can activate a trajectory of their positive development. Family-related adversity can endanger this development via associated negative emotions, such as feelings of hopelessness, hostility, and psychological distress. Therefore, we aimed first to explore the association of family-related adversity with positive youth development (PYD), and second whether psychological distress, hopelessness, and hostility mediate this association. Methods We obtained self-reported data from 308 Slovak adolescents (44.5% were boys, mean age = 12.55). Family-related adversity was measured using questions regarding the death of parents, divorce/separation, violence between parents, and parental substance abuse. Positive youth development was measured with the Very Short PYD questionnaire; psychological distress with the GHQ-12; hopelessness with the Hopelessness questionnaire and hostility with a subscale from the Aggression Questionnaire. Results We found that family-related adversity was not associated with the first PYD component – internal values (regarding the domains of character and caring). However, it was negatively associated with its second component – self- and social efficacy (regarding the domains connection, competence and confidence): regression coefficient B= -0.32; 95%; confidence interval CI: -0.57 to -0.06). Next, we found that psychological distress (0.38; -0.50 to -0.26), hopelessness (-0.18; -0.31 to -0.05) and hostility (-0.23; -0.33 to -0.13) were associated with self- and social efficacy. Moreover, all potential mediators had statistically significant indirect effects: psychological distress − 0.11, hopelessness − 0.09 and hostility − 0.08. Conclusion These findings may provide suggestions for programs supporting adolescents from families in adversity. These could be directed at better coping with psychological distress and addressing hostility and hopelessness.https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-025-03098-wFamily-related adversityPositive youth developmentHopelessnessPsychological distressHostility |
| spellingShingle | Jaroslava Mackova Zuzana Dankulincova Veselska Daniela Filakovska Bobakova Andrea Madarasova Geckova Jitse P. van Dijk Sijmen A. Reijneveld Family-related adversity and positive youth development: the role of psychological distress, hopelessness and hostility BMC Psychology Family-related adversity Positive youth development Hopelessness Psychological distress Hostility |
| title | Family-related adversity and positive youth development: the role of psychological distress, hopelessness and hostility |
| title_full | Family-related adversity and positive youth development: the role of psychological distress, hopelessness and hostility |
| title_fullStr | Family-related adversity and positive youth development: the role of psychological distress, hopelessness and hostility |
| title_full_unstemmed | Family-related adversity and positive youth development: the role of psychological distress, hopelessness and hostility |
| title_short | Family-related adversity and positive youth development: the role of psychological distress, hopelessness and hostility |
| title_sort | family related adversity and positive youth development the role of psychological distress hopelessness and hostility |
| topic | Family-related adversity Positive youth development Hopelessness Psychological distress Hostility |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-025-03098-w |
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