Effect of authenticity on behavior problems and loneliness of high school students / 中华行为医学与脑科学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate the effect of the high school students' authenticity in the relationships with parents and friends on their behavior problems and loneliness.Methods A total of 619 high school students in Guangdong province participated in this study.The instruments included the Authenticity Scale,the Youth Self-Report and the State versus Trait Loneliness Scales.Results (1) Authentic self in the relationship with parents were significantly and negatively related to internalizing problems (depression/anxiety,social withdrawal and somatic complaints,standardized regression coefficients were-0.17,P ＜ 0.01 ;-0.10,P ＜ 0.05 ;-0.10,P ＜ 0.05),externalizing problems (aggression and delinquency,standardized regression coefficients were -0.16,P ＜ 0.01 ;-0.21,P ＜ 0.01) and loneliness (trait loneliness and state loneliness,standardized regression coefficients were-0.17,P ＜0.01 ;-0.17,P ＜0.01).(2) Authentic self in the relationship with friends was significantly and negatively related to internalizing problems (depression/anxiety,social withdrawal and somatic complaints,standardized regression coefficients were-0.24,P＜ 0.01 ;-0.28,P＜ 0.01 ;-0.10,P＜ 0.05) and loneliness(trait loneliness and state loneliness,standardized regression coefficients were-0.29,P ＜ 0.01;-0.34,P ＜0.01).Conclusion Authenticity in the relationships with parents and friends has the positive effect on adolescents' psychosocial adjustment.