Effect of parent-child cohesion on internalizing problems of junior high school students: the mediating role of self-esteem and the moderating role of sibling relationships

Yinghong DONG; Fumin FANG; Junxin DING

ABSTRACT

Objective:

To explore the effect of self-esteem and sibling relationships on the links of parental cohesion and internalizing problems in junior high school students based on the family system theory.

Methods:

A total of 565 junior high school students were investigated with the sibling relationship questionnaire, parent-child cohesion questionnaire, self-esteem scale and internalizing problems questionnaire from April to June 2021.SPSS 26.0 was used for descriptive statistics and Pearson correlation analysis.PROCESS was used to examine the mediating and moderating effect.

Results:

Maternal-child cohesion was positively correlated with self-esteem and sibling warmth ( r=0.36, 0.58, both P<0.01), while it was negatively correlated with internalizing problems and sibling conflict ( r=-0.29, -0.25, both P<0.01). Similarly, paternal-child cohesion was positively correlated with self-esteem and sibling warmth ( r=0.37, 0.51, both P<0.01), and it was negatively correlated with internalizing problems and sibling conflict ( r=-0.36, -0.21, both P<0.01). The self-esteem played a partial mediating role between maternal-child cohesion and internalizing problems ( β=-0.09, 95% CI=-0.14--0.05), and the mediating value was 30.13%.The self-esteem also played a partial mediating role between paternal-child cohesion and internalizing problems ( β=-0.07, 95% CI=-0.11--0.04), and the mediating value was 25.36%.Sibling warmth could improve the positive effect of maternal-child cohesion on self-esteem ( β=0.06, 95% CI=0.01-0.11), while could offset the negative effects of low level of maternal-child cohesion against the internalizing problems ( β=0.10, 95% CI=0.04-0.16). But sibling conflict did not significantly predict the effects of maternal-child cohesion on self-esteem and internalizing problems.Similarly, sibling warmth could improve the positive effect of paternal-child cohesion on self-esteem ( β=0.05, 95% CI=0.01-0.09), while could offset the negative effects of low level of paternal-child cohesion against the internalizing problems ( β=0.09, 95% CI=0.03-0.15). But sibling conflict could reduce the positive impact of paternal-child cohesion and self-esteem ( β=-0.05, 95% CI=-0.09--0.01), while had no effect on the impact of paternal-child cohesion and internalizing problems.

Conclusion:

Parent-child cohesion not only directly affects the internalizing problems, but also indirectly affects the internalizing problems through the self-esteem.Positive parent-child cohesion and sibling warmth relationships can improve the individual's self-esteem level and reduce the internalizing problems.