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The structural relations of self-control, empathy, interpersonal trust, friendship quality, and mental well-being among adolescents: a cross-national comparative study in China and Canada

Author

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  • Jinpeng Niu

    (Qufu Normal University)

  • Chao Jin

    (Qufu Normal University
    Jining University)

  • Lingqi Meng

    (Qufu Normal University)

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to explore the structural relationships between self-control, empathy, interpersonal trust, friendship quality, and mental well-being among Chinese (N = 3595) and Canadian (N = 2056) adolescents. A structural equation modeling (SEM) approach was adopted by means of a multi-group analysis. Within the aggregate sample, empathy and interpersonal trust were shown to be related to mental well-being both directly and indirectly, with friendship quality as the mediating variable, whereas self-control merely had a direct effect on mental well-being. The multiple-group analysis revealed a series of discrepancies, showing that empathy had a significant impact on the mental well-being of Chinese but not Canadian adolescents. Furthermore, empathy exerted a significantly stronger effect on friendship quality for Chinese than for Canadian adolescents, whereas interpersonal trust had a significantly stronger impact on friendship quality among Canadian than among Chinese adolescents. The differences were discussed from a cross-cultural perspective concerning collectivism versus individualism. The measures employed in the present study are closely related to social and emotional skills; the findings therefore may point to benefits for both Chinese and Canadian adolescents in terms of enhancement of their cultural-specific social and emotional skills as well as their well-being.

Suggested Citation

  • Jinpeng Niu & Chao Jin & Lingqi Meng, 2023. "The structural relations of self-control, empathy, interpersonal trust, friendship quality, and mental well-being among adolescents: a cross-national comparative study in China and Canada," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 10(1), pages 1-11, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:pal:palcom:v:10:y:2023:i:1:d:10.1057_s41599-023-02468-2
    DOI: 10.1057/s41599-023-02468-2
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Seung-Sup Kim & Yeonseung Chung & Melissa J Perry & Ichiro Kawachi & S V Subramanian, 2012. "Association between Interpersonal Trust, Reciprocity, and Depression in South Korea: A Prospective Analysis," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 7(1), pages 1-8, January.
    2. Ed Diener & Shigehiro Oishi & Louis Tay, 2018. "Advances in subjective well-being research," Nature Human Behaviour, Nature, vol. 2(4), pages 253-260, April.
    3. Krzysztof Zagórski, 2011. "Income and Happiness in Time of Post-Communist Modernization," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 104(2), pages 331-349, November.
    4. Easterlin, Richard A, 2001. "Income and Happiness: Towards an Unified Theory," Economic Journal, Royal Economic Society, vol. 111(473), pages 465-484, July.
    5. Max Haller & Markus Hadler, 2006. "How Social Relations and Structures can Produce Happiness and Unhappiness: An International Comparative Analysis," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 75(2), pages 169-216, January.
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    Cited by:

    1. Jinmei Tu & Hongyu Fu, 2024. "The path to happiness for music students: music empathy and music engagement as potential sources of subjective well-being," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 11(1), pages 1-9, December.

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