The Relationship Between Family Functioning and Adolescents' Symptoms of Generalized Stress Response: The Mediating Roles of Character Strengths and Perceived Stress.

Introduction: The present study examined the associations between family functioning and adolescents' symptoms of generalized stress response and the mediating role of character strengths and perceived stress using a 1-year longitudinal design.

Methods: A total of 613 Chinese adolescents (50.6% females; M = 13.88, SD = 0.61) completed the Chinese version of the Family Adaptation and Cohesion Evaluation Scale Ⅱ, the Simplified Character Strength Scale for Adolescents, the Perceived Stress Scale, Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7, the Center for Epidemiological Survey-Depression Scale, the somatization subscale of the Symptom Checklist 90, and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, to assess family functioning, character strengths, perceived stress, and symptoms of generalized stress response. From July 2022 through July 2023, participants were assessed longitudinally at two time points separated by 1 year.

Results: Findings showed that family functioning at T1 and character strengths at T1 were negatively correlated to and perceived stress at T1 was positively correlated to adolescents' symptoms of generalized stress response at T2 when control adolescents' symptoms of generalized stress response at T1. Importantly, global character strengths, temperance, teamwork, spirit and faith at T1, and perceived stress at T1 serially mediated the association between family functioning at T1 and adolescents' symptoms of generalized stress response at T2.

Conclusion: The present study findings highlight the joint contribution of family functioning, character strengths, and perceived stress to symptoms of generalized stress response, providing theoretical and practical implications for preventing and intervening in mental health issues among adolescents.