IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v16y2024i4p1446-d1335957.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Parents’ Responses and Children’s Subjective Well-Being: The Role of Parent–Child Relationship and Friendship Quality

Author

Listed:
  • Weina Li

    (Department of Management, Hunan Police Academy, Changsha 410138, China
    Key Laboratory of Adolescent Cyberpsychology and Behavior, Central China Normal University, Ministry of Education, Wuhan 430079, China
    School of Psychology, Central China Normal University, Wuhan 430079, China)

  • Youzhi Song

    (Key Laboratory of Adolescent Cyberpsychology and Behavior, Central China Normal University, Ministry of Education, Wuhan 430079, China
    School of Psychology, Central China Normal University, Wuhan 430079, China)

  • Zongkui Zhou

    (Key Laboratory of Adolescent Cyberpsychology and Behavior, Central China Normal University, Ministry of Education, Wuhan 430079, China
    School of Psychology, Central China Normal University, Wuhan 430079, China)

  • Chuanhua Gu

    (Key Laboratory of Adolescent Cyberpsychology and Behavior, Central China Normal University, Ministry of Education, Wuhan 430079, China
    School of Psychology, Central China Normal University, Wuhan 430079, China)

  • Baiheng Wang

    (Department of Psychology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA)

Abstract

The current study examined the psychological mechanism that underlies the relationship between parents’ response style and children’s subjective well-being and its boundary conditions, the mediating role of the parent–child relationship, and the moderating role of friendship quality. Using the Parents’ Responses to Children’s Performance Scale, the Buchanan Scale of Closeness to Parents, the Friendship Quality Questionnaire, and the Campbell Index of Well-being, our study investigated 686 pupils who were randomly selected from three public schools in central China. Employing Mplus 8.3 for pathway analysis, we found the following results: Failure-oriented responses negatively predict children’s subjective well-being ( β = −0.16, p < 0.001), while success-oriented responses positively predict children’s subjective well-being ( β = 0.13, p < 0.01). Both failure-oriented ( ab = 0.18, SE = 0.03, 95% CI = [0.13, 0.25]) and success-oriented responses ( ab = −0.10, SE = 0.02, 95% CI = [−0.14, −0.06]) predict children’s subjective well-being through the mediating effect of the parent–child relationship. Friendship quality has a moderating effect on the mediating path ( β = −0.09, p < 0.05), such that when friendship quality is lower, the parent–child relationship has a higher mediating effect between the parents’ responses and children’s subjective well-being. This study offers empirical evidence that parents’ responses to children’s performance significantly contribute to children’s subjective well-being. Moreover, it offers actionable insights for enhancing children’s subjective well-being. The enhancement could be achieved by fostering positive parent–child relationships and enhancing the quality of children’s friendships, thereby positively impacting their well-being.

Suggested Citation

  • Weina Li & Youzhi Song & Zongkui Zhou & Chuanhua Gu & Baiheng Wang, 2024. "Parents’ Responses and Children’s Subjective Well-Being: The Role of Parent–Child Relationship and Friendship Quality," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(4), pages 1-13, February.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:16:y:2024:i:4:p:1446-:d:1335957
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/16/4/1446/pdf
    Download Restriction: no

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/16/4/1446/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Wang Liu & Jie Mei & Lili Tian & E. Huebner, 2016. "Age and Gender Differences in the Relation Between School-Related Social Support and Subjective Well-Being in School Among Students," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 125(3), pages 1065-1083, February.
    2. Weina Li & Fenge Tan & Zongkui Zhou & Yukang Xue & Chuanhua Gu & Xizheng Xu, 2022. "Parents’ Response to Children’s Performance and Children’s Self-Esteem: Parent–Child Relationship and Friendship Quality as Mediators," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(10), pages 1-15, May.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Maria Aymerich & Ramon Cladellas & Antoni Castelló & Ferran Casas & Mònica Cunill, 2021. "The Evolution of Life Satisfaction Throughout Childhood and Adolescence: Differences in Young People’s Evaluations According to Age and Gender," Child Indicators Research, Springer;The International Society of Child Indicators (ISCI), vol. 14(6), pages 2347-2369, December.
    2. Bernadette R. Pacaña, 2024. "The Mediating Effect of Parental Involvement on the Relationship Between Teacher Support and Student Motivation in Learning Science," International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science, International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS), vol. 8(3s), pages 1245-1262, March.
    3. Daniela Raccanello & Giada Vicentini & Elena Trifiletti & Roberto Burro, 2020. "A Rasch Analysis of the School-Related Well-Being (SRW) Scale: Measuring Well-Being in the Transition from Primary to Secondary School," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(1), pages 1-17, December.
    4. Paulina Anikiej-Wiczenbach & Maria Kaźmierczak, 2022. "The Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Parenting of Infants: A Couples Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(24), pages 1-11, December.
    5. Zhu, Xinxin & Tian, Lili & Zhou, Jianhua & Huebner, E. Scott, 2019. "The developmental trajectory of behavioral school engagement and its reciprocal relations with subjective well-being in school among Chinese elementary school students," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 99(C), pages 286-295.
    6. Saira Hossain & Iva Strnadová & Joanne Danker & Sue C. O’ Neill, 2024. "How Do Bangladeshi Secondary School Students Conceptualise Well-Being in School," Child Indicators Research, Springer;The International Society of Child Indicators (ISCI), vol. 17(4), pages 1523-1545, August.
    7. Hong Shi & Hanfang Zhao & Zheng Ren & Minfu He & Yuyu Li & Yajiao Pu & Xiangrong Li & Shixun Wang & Li Cui & Jieyu Zhao & Hongjian Liu & Xiumin Zhang, 2022. "Factors Associated with Subjective Well-Being of Chinese Adolescents Aged 10–15: Based on China Family Panel Studies," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(12), pages 1-15, June.
    8. Emilly Cavalheiro Esidio & Marco Túlio Aniceto França & Gustavo Saraiva Frio, 2023. "Differences between genders in the subjective well-being of students participating in PISA 2018," Child Indicators Research, Springer;The International Society of Child Indicators (ISCI), vol. 16(4), pages 1781-1809, August.
    9. Wang Liu & Tian Su & Lili Tian & E. Scott Huebner, 2021. "Prosocial Behavior and Subjective Well-Being in School among Elementary School Students: the Mediating Roles of the Satisfaction of Relatedness Needs at School and Self-Esteem," Applied Research in Quality of Life, Springer;International Society for Quality-of-Life Studies, vol. 16(4), pages 1439-1459, August.
    10. Fábio Botelho Guedes & Ana Cerqueira & Susana Gaspar & Tania Gaspar & Carmen Moreno & Margarida Gaspar Matos, 2023. "Quality of Life and Well-Being of Adolescents in Portuguese Schools," Child Indicators Research, Springer;The International Society of Child Indicators (ISCI), vol. 16(4), pages 1381-1394, August.
    11. Estefanía Mónaco & Konstanze Schoeps & Inmaculada Montoya-Castilla, 2019. "Attachment Styles and Well-Being in Adolescents: How Does Emotional Development Affect This Relationship?," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(14), pages 1-17, July.
    12. Ibrahim Youssef Alyoussef & Omer Musa Alhassan Omer, 2023. "Investigating Student Satisfaction and Adoption of Technology-Enhanced Learning to Improve Educational Outcomes in Saudi Higher Education," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(19), pages 1-25, October.
    13. Metin Kaya & Cahit Erdem, 2021. "Students’ Well-Being and Academic Achievement: A Meta-Analysis Study," Child Indicators Research, Springer;The International Society of Child Indicators (ISCI), vol. 14(5), pages 1743-1767, October.
    14. Janka Goldan & Lena Nusser & Michael Gebel, 2022. "School-related Subjective Well-being of Children with and without Special Educational Needs in Inclusive Classrooms," Child Indicators Research, Springer;The International Society of Child Indicators (ISCI), vol. 15(4), pages 1313-1337, August.
    15. Kaye-Tzadok, Avital & Kim, Sun Suk & Main, Gill, 2017. "Children's subjective well-being in relation to gender — What can we learn from dissatisfied children?," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 80(C), pages 96-104.
    16. Mari Barrance, Rhian & May Hampton, Jennifer, 2023. "The relationship between subjective well-being in school and children’s participation rights: International evidence from the Children’s Worlds survey," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 151(C).
    17. Saira Hossain & Sue O’Neill & Iva Strnadová, 2023. "What Constitutes Student Well-Being: A Scoping Review Of Students’ Perspectives," Child Indicators Research, Springer;The International Society of Child Indicators (ISCI), vol. 16(2), pages 447-483, April.
    18. Dong Zhou & Langchuan Peng, 2018. "The Relationship Between the Gender Gap in Subjective Well-Being and Leisure Activities in China," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 19(7), pages 2139-2166, October.
    19. Alfaro, Jaime & Carrillo, Gisela & Aspillaga, Carolina & Villarroel, Alejandra & Varela, Jorge, 2023. "Well-being, school and age, from the understandings of Chilean children," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 144(C).
    20. José M. Tomás & Melchor Gutiérrez & Ana María Pastor & Patricia Sancho, 2020. "Perceived Social Support, School Adaptation and Adolescents’ Subjective Well-Being," Child Indicators Research, Springer;The International Society of Child Indicators (ISCI), vol. 13(5), pages 1597-1617, October.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:16:y:2024:i:4:p:1446-:d:1335957. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.