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Anxiety and self-esteem as mediators of the relation between family communication and indecisiveness in adolescence

  • Valentina Lo Cascio
  • Giovanni Guzzo
  • Francesco Pace
  • Ugo Pace
Article
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Abstract

In this study, we explored the unique and common contributions of anxiety, self-esteem, and family communication on indecisiveness among adolescents. Three hundred and fifty pupils from 13 to 16 years of age completed self-report measures on indecisiveness, quality of family communication, trait anxiety, and self-esteem. The findings in this study showed that students’ indecisiveness is predicted by family communication mediated by anxiety and self-esteem. These results have important implications for practice as it stresses the importance of anxiety and self-esteem. Nevertheless, the counselors could also focus on enhancing relationship-building skills by introducing the adolescents’ career formation as an adolescent–parent joint project.

Keywords

Family communication Indecisiveness Anxiety 

Résumé

L’anxiété et l’estime de soi comme médiateurs de la relation entre communication au sein de la famille et indécision chronique à l’adolescence. Dans cette étude, nous avons exploré les contributions uniques et communes de l’anxiété, de l’estime de soi et de la communication au sein de la famille sur l’indécision chronique auprès d’adolescents. Trois cent cinquante élèves âgés de 13 à 16 ans ont rempli des mesures d’auto-évaluation de l’indécision chronique, de la qualité de la communication familiale, de l’anxiété-trait et de l’estime de soi. Les résultats de cette étude ont montré que l’indécision des étudiants est expliquée par la communication au sein de la famille et que ce lien est médiatisé par l’anxiété et l’estime de soi. Ces résultats ont des implications importantes pour la pratique car ils soulignent l’importance de l’anxiété et l’estime de soi. Néanmoins, les conseillers pourraient également se concentrer sur l’amélioration des compétences de construction relationnelle en introduisant la formation professionnelle des adolescents comme un projet conjoint adolescent-parent.

Zusammenfassung

Angst und Selbstwertgefühl als Mediatoren der Beziehung zwischen Kommunikation in der Familie und Unentschlossenheit in der Adoleszenz. In dieser Studie untersuchten wir die spezifischen und gemeinsamen Beiträge von Angst, Selbstwertgefühl und Kommunikation in der Familie auf Unentschlossenheit unter Jugendlichen. Dreihundertfünfzig Schüler, zwischen 13 bis 16 Jahre alt, füllten Skalen zur Unentschlossenheit, Qualität der Kommunikation in der Familie, Ängstlichkeit und Selbstwertgefühl aus. Die Ergebnisse dieser Studie zeigten, dass Unentschlossenheit der Schüler von Kommunikation in der Familie vorhergesagt wird, vermittelt durch Angst und Selbstwertgefühl. Diese Ergebnisse haben wichtige Implikationen für die Praxis, da sie die Bedeutung von Angst und Selbstwertgefühl hervorheben. Dennoch könnten sich die Beratungspersonen durch die Einführung der beruflichen Bildung der Jugendlichen als ein gemeinsames Projekt von Jugendliche-Elternteil auch auf die Verbesserung der Fähigkeiten zum Aufbau von Beziehungen konzentrieren.

Resumen

Ansiedad y Autoestima como Mediadores de la Relación entre Comunicación Familiar e Indecisión en la Adolescencia. En este estudio, exploramos las contribuciones únicas y comunes de la ansiedad, la autoestima y la comunicación de familia en la indecisión de los adolescentes. Tres y cientos cincuenta alumnos entre los 13 y 16 años completaron auto-evaluaciones sobre la indecisión, la calidad de comunicación familiar, los rasgos de ansiedad y la autoestima. Los resultados en este estudio muestran que la indecisión en los estudiantes es prevista por la comunicación familiar mediada por la ansiedad y la autoestima. Estos resultados tiene importantes implicaciones para la practica ya que destacan la importancia de la ansiedad y la autoestima. Sin embargo, los consejeros podrían también focalizarse en el aumento de sus habilidades para construir relaciones mediante la introducción de la formación profesional para adolescentes como un proyecto conjunto del adolescente-padre.

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Notes

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank Vincenza Blunda, Mario Noto, Elena Scrima, and Marisa Ribaudo for their help in the collection and loading of data. We also wish to thank all of the instructors and students who participated in this study.

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Copyright information

© Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht 2013

Authors and Affiliations

  • Valentina Lo Cascio
    • 1
  • Giovanni Guzzo
    • 2
  • Francesco Pace
    • 3
  • Ugo Pace
    • 2
  1. 1.Department of Economics, Business and StatisticsUniversity of PalermoPalermoItaly
  2. 2.Department of Human and Social ScienceUniversity of Enna “Kore”EnnaItaly
  3. 3.Department of PsychologyUniversity of PalermoPalermoItaly

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