Relationship between Family Functioning and Possible Selves in Adolescents from Argentina

Abstract

The goal of this study was to analyze the relationship between different family functioning types and the content, valence, and structure of adolescents’ possible selves (PSs). Participants were adolescents (n = 392) of both genders (female = 54.9%) from private and catholic high schools in the city of Buenos Aires, Argentina (age, M = 14.92, SD = 1.52). We performed a cluster analysis to explore family functioning profiles in terms of communication with parents, promotion of challenges, family cohesion, and flexibility. In order to study family functioning type and PSs content association, we performed a chi-squared test. To study family functioning type differences in PSs valence and structure we conducted a one-way MANOVA. The chi-squared test indicated that there was no significant association between family functioning type and adolescents’ PSs spontaneous content. On the other hand, the MANOVA revealed the existence of significant differences in PSs valence between each type of family functioning group. In regard to the structure of PSs, there were no significant differences between family functioning types. In conclusion, adolescents who perceived positive family functioning have more positive PSs. Family functioning type was not related to PSs content and structure.

Keywords:

• Possible selves
• self-perception
• adolescence
• family functioning

Acknowledgements

We want to thank to the adolescents, teachers and authorities of the schools that participated in this study.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the National University of Tres de Febrero.

Notes on contributors

María Fernanda Molina

María F. Molina is professor of research methodology at the National University of Tres de Febrero (UNTREF). Her line of research focuses on the study of the relationship between the family context and the development of young people's current and future self-perceptions.

Vanina Schmidt

Vanina Schmidt is Professor of Psychology Assessment at University of Buenos Aires (UBA) and Professor of Research Methodology at Interamerican Open University (UAI), and researcher at National Council of Scientific and Technique Research (CONICET). Her line of research focuses on how the personality and the environment contribute to the adolescents´ positive development and protect them from risky alcohol consumption.