Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Parental Gratitude and Adolescent Anomie and Hope

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Journal of Child and Family Studies Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Objectives

The contribution of parental gratitude to the adolescent’s hope is plausible in light of social integration theory but empirically unverified. According to the theory, parental gratitude facilitates an integrative social environment for the adolescent to sustain hope. The theory also suggests that the adolescent’s anomie or normlessness, as a negative indicator of social integration, is a mediator of the contribution.

Methods

To verify the contributions, the present study surveyed 310 pairs of Hong Kong Chinese adolescents and their parents. In each of the pairs, the adolescent reported his or her hope and anomie, whereas the parent reported his or her gratitude.

Results

Supporting the theory, results demonstrated the contribution of parental gratitude to adolescent hope through mediation by adolescent anomie. Specifically, parental gratitude showed a negative effect on adolescent hope, which in turn displayed a negative effect on adolescent hope.

Conclusions

The results imply the value of promoting parental gratitude particularly and social integration generally for sustaining adolescent hope.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Adnanes, M. (2007). Social transitions and anomie among post-communist Bulgarian youth. Young, 15, 49–69.

    Google Scholar 

  • Aghababaei, N., Sohrabi, F., Eskandari, H., Borjali, A., Farrokhi, N., & Chen, Z. J. (2016). Predicting subjective well-being by religious and scientific attitudes with hope, purpose in life, and death anxiety as mediators. Personality & Individual Differences, 90, 93–98.

    Google Scholar 

  • Algoe, S. B., Fredrickson, B. L., & Gable, S. L. (2013). The social functions of the emotion of gratitude via expression. Emotion, 13, 605–609.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Armenta, C. N., Fritz, M. M., & Lyubomirsky, S. (2017). Functions of positive emotions: gratitude as a motivator of self-improvement and positive change. Emotion Review, 9, 183–190.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bernat, F. P. (2009). Youth resilience: can schools enhance youth factors for hope, optimism, and success? Women and Criminal Justice, 19, 251–266.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bjarnason, T. (2009). Anomie among European adolescents: conceptual and empirical clarification of a multilevel sociological concept. Sociological Forum, 24, 135–161.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bock, D. E., Folse, J. A. G., & Black, W. C. (2016). When frontline employee behavior backfires. Journal of Service Research, 19, 322–336.

    Google Scholar 

  • Boduszek, D., & Dhingra, K. (2016). Construct validity of the Beck Hopelessness Scale (BHS) among university students: a multitrait-multimethod approach. Psychological Assessment, 28(10), 1325–1330.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bolland, J. M. (2003). Hopelessness and risk behaviour among adolescents living in high-poverty inner-city neighbourhoods. Journal of Adolescence, 26, 145–158.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bulmahn, T. (2000). Modernity and happiness: the case of Germany. Journal of Happiness Studies, 1, 375–400.

    Google Scholar 

  • Buric, I., & Soric, I. (2012). The role of test hope and hopelessness in self-regulated learning: relations between volitional strategies, cognitive appraisals and academic achievement. Learning & Individual Differences, 22, 523–529.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cheung, C. K., & Ngai, N. P. (2004). Humanistic approach to youth development in the Summer Youth Program of Hong Kong. Journal of Social Service Research, 31(2), 1–24.

    Google Scholar 

  • Coles, B., England, J., & Rugg, J. (2000). Spaced out? Young people on social housing estates: social exclusion and multi-agency work. Journal of Youth Studies, 3, 21–33.

    Google Scholar 

  • De Beuckelaer, A., Weijters, B., & Rutten, A. (2009). Using ad hoc measures for response styles: a cautionary note. Quality & Quantity, 44, 761–775.

    Google Scholar 

  • Drummond, H. J., Bolland, M., & Harris, W. A. (2011). Becoming violent: Evaluating the mediating effect of hopelessness on the code of the street thesis. Deviant Behavior, 32, 191–223.

    Google Scholar 

  • Eibach, R. P., Wilmot, M. O., & Libby, L. K. (2015). The system-justifying function of gratitude norms. Social & Personality Psychology Compass, 9, 348–358.

    Google Scholar 

  • Elliott, D. S., & Wilson, W. J. (1996). The effects of neighborhood disadvantage on adolescent development. Journal of Research in Crime & Delinquency, 33, 389–416.

    Google Scholar 

  • Emmons, R. A. (2008). Gratitude, subjective well-being, and the brain. In M. Eid & R. J. Larsen (Eds), The science of subjective well-being (pp. 469–489). New York: Guilford.

  • Eremsoy, C. E., Celimli, S., & Gencoz, T. (2005). Students under academic stress in a Turkish university: variables associated with symptoms of depression and anxiety. Current Psychology, 24, 123–133.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fan, W., Cheung, F. M., Leong, F. T. L., & Cheung, S. F. (2012). Personality traits, vocational interests, and career exploration: a cross-cultural comparison between American and Hong Kong students. Journal of Career Assessment, 20, 105–119.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ferguson, K. M. (2006). Social capital and children’s wellbeing: a critical synthesis of the international social capital literature. International Journal of Social Welfare, 15, 2–18.

    Google Scholar 

  • Furnham, A. (1984). Personality, social skills, anomie, and delinquency: a self-report study of a group of normal non-delinquent adolescents. Journal of Child Psychology & Psychiatry & Allied Disciplines, 25, 409–420.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gerometta, J., Haussermann, H., & Longo, G. (2005). Social innovation and civil society in urban governance: strategies for an inclusive city. Urban Studies, 42, 2007–2021.

    Google Scholar 

  • Goldner, L., Lev-Weisel, R., & Schanan, Y. (2019). Caring about tomorrow: the role of potency, socio-economic status and gender in Israeli adolescents’ academic future orientation. Child Indicators Research, 12(4), 1333–1349.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gordon, M. S., Kinlock, T. W., Couvillion, K. A., Schwartz, R. P., & O’Grady, K. (2012). A randomized clinical trial of methadone maintenance for prisoners: Prediction of treatment entry and completion in prison. Journal of Offender Rehabilitation, 51, 222–238.

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Hoy, B. D., Suldo, S. M., & Mendez, L. R. (2013). Links between parents’ and children’s levels of gratitude, life satisfaction, and hope. Journal of Happiness Studies, 14, 1343–1361.

    Google Scholar 

  • Imamoglu, E. O. (2003). Individuation and relatedness: not opposing but distinct and complementary. Genetic, Social & General Psychology Monographs, 129, 367–402.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kong, F., You, X. Q., & Zhao, J. J. (2017). Evaluation of the Gratitude Questionnaire in a Chinese sample of adults: factorial validity, criterion-related validity, and measurement invariance across sex. Frontiers in Psychology, 8, 1498.

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Kuah-Pearce, K. E., & Fong, Y. C. (2010). Identity and sense of belonging in post-colonial education in Hong Kong. Asia Pacific Journal of Education, 30, 433–448.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kumar, A., Sharma, M., & Hooda, D. (2012). Perceived parenting style as a predictor of hope among adolescents. Journal of the Indian Academy of Applied Psychology, 38, 174–178.

    Google Scholar 

  • Landis, D., Gaylord-Harden, N. K., Malinowski, S. L., Grant, K. E., Carleton, R. A., & Ford, R. E. (2007). Urban adolescent stress and hopelessness. Journal of Adolescence, 30, 1051–1070.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Larson, R. (1994). Youth organizations, hobbies, and sports as developmental contexts. In R. K. Silberelsen & E. Todt (Eds), Adolescence in context: The interplay of family, school, peers, and work in adjustment (pp. 46–65). New York: Springer-Verlag.

  • Lester, D. (2015). Hopelessness in adolescents. Journal of Affective Disorders, 173, 221–225.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Li, D., Wang, X., Li, Y., & Bao, Z. (2016). Parenting and Chinese adolescent suicidal ideation and suicide attempts: the mediating role of hopelessness. Journal of Child & Family Studies, 25, 1397–1407.

    Google Scholar 

  • Machalek, R., & Martin, M. W. (2012). Sacrifice, gratitude, and obligation: serial reciprocity in early Christianity. Advances in Group Processes, 29, 39–75.

    Google Scholar 

  • Marsh, H. W., Hau, K. T., & Wen, Z. (2004). In search of golden rules: Comment on hypothesis-testing approaches to setting cutoff values for fit indexes and dangers in overgeneralizing Hu and Bentler’s (1999) findings. Structural Equation Modeling, 11, 320–341.

  • Martin, F., Clyne, W., Pearce, G., & Turner, A. (2019). Self-management support intervention for parents of children with developmental disorders: the role of gratitude and hope. Journal of Child & Family Studies, 28, 980–992.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mascaro, N., & Rosen, D. H. (2005). Existential meaning’s role in the enhancement of hope and prevention of depressive symptoms. Journal of Personality, 73, 985–1014.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • May, D. C. (2015). Victimization and fear of crime among juveniles. In M. D. Krohn & J. Lane (Eds), The handbook juveile delinquency and juvenile justice (pp. 601–620). Chichester, UK: Wiley.

    Google Scholar 

  • McDavid, L., McDonough, M. H., & Smith, A. L. (2015). An empirical evaluation of two theoretically-based hypotheses on the directional association between self-worth and hope. Journal of Adolescence, 41, 25–30.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • McCullough, M. E., Kilpatrick, S. D., Emmons, R. A., & Larson, D. B. (2001). Is gratitude a moral affect? Psychological Bulletin, 127, 249–266.

  • McNeal, Jr. & R. B. (1997). High school dropouts: a closer examination of school effects. Social Science Quarterly, 78, 209–222.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mercon-Vargas, E. A., Poelker, K. E., & Tudge, J. R. H. (2018). The development of the virtue of gratitude: theoretical foundations and cross-cultural issues. Cross-Cultural Research, 52, 3–18.

    Google Scholar 

  • Molm, L. D. (2008). The structure of reciprocity and integrative bonds: the role emotions. In J. Clay-Warner & D. T. Robinson (Eds), Social structure and emotion (pp. 167–192). San Diego, CA: Academic.

    Google Scholar 

  • Montada, L. (1992). Predicting prosocial commitment: different social contexts. In P. M. Oliner, S. P. Oliner, L. Baron, L. A. Blum & D. L. Krebs (Eds), Embracing the other: philosophical, psychological, and historical perspectives on altruism (pp. 221–252). New York, NY: New York University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Muthen, L. K., & Muthen, B. O. (2006). Mplus user’s guide. Los Angeles, CA: Muthen & Muthen.

    Google Scholar 

  • Podsakoff, P. M., MacKenzie, S. B., & Podsakoff, N. P. (2003). Common method biases in behavioral research: a critical review of the literature and recommended remedies. Journal of Applied Psychology, 88, 879–903.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Preston, C. C., & Colman, A. M. (2000). Optimal number of response categories in rating scales: reliability, validity, discriminating power, and respondent preferences. Acta Psychologica, 14, 1–15.

    Google Scholar 

  • Raffo, C., & Reeves, M. (2000). Youth transitions and social exclusion: developments in social capital theory. Journal of Youth Studies, 3, 147–166.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rand, K. L. (2018). Hope, self-efficacy, and optimism: conceptual and empirical differences. In M. W. Gallagher & S. J. Lopez (Eds), The Oxford handbook of hope (pp. 45–58). New York, NY: Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Richards, L. (2016). For whom money matters less: social connectedness as a resilience resource in the UK. Social Indicators Research, 125, 509–535.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Roberts, R. C. (2001). The blessings of gratitude: a conceptual analysis. In R. A. Emmons & M. E. McCullough (Eds), The psychology of gratitude (pp. 58–78). New York, NY: Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rothenberg, W. A., Hussong, A. M., Langley, H. A., Egerton, G. A., Halberstadt, A. G., Coffman, J. L., Mokrova, I., & Costanzo, P. R. (2017). Grateful parents raising grateful children: niche selection and the socialization of child gratitude. Applied Developmental Science, 21, 106–120.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Rotkirch, A. (2014). Gratitude for help among adult friends and siblings. Evolutionary Psychology, 12, 673–686.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Savicki, V., Downing-Burnette, R., Heller, L., Binder, F., & Suntinger, W. (2004). Contrasts, changes, and correlates in actual and potential intercultural adjustment. International Journal of Intercultural Relations, 28, 311–329.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sharabi, A., Levi, U., & Margalit, M. (2012). Children’s loneliness, sense of coherence, family climate, and hope: Developmental risk and protective factors. Journal of Psychology, 146, 61–83.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Snyder, C. R., Rand, K. L. R., & Sigmon, D. R. (2018). Hope theory: a member of the psoitive psychology family. In M. W. Gallagher & S. J. Lopez (Eds), The Oxford handbook of hope (pp. 27–43). New York, NY: Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stoddard, S. A., Henly, S. J., Sieving, R. E., & Bolland, J. (2011). Social connections, trajectories of hopelessness, and serious violence in impoverished urban youth. Journal of Youth & Adolescence, 40, 278–295.

    Google Scholar 

  • Terzi-Unsal, S., & Karei, E. G. (2005). Risk factors for suicide behavior: psychosocial risk models with Turkish adolescents. Social Behavior & Personality, 33, 893–608.

    Google Scholar 

  • Thorlindsson, T., & Bjarnason, T. (1998). Modeling Durkheim on the micro level: a study of youth suicidality. American Sociological Review, 63, 94–110.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tsahuridu, E. E. (2006). Anomie and ethics at work. Journal of Business Ethics, 69, 163–174.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ungar, M., Dumond, C., & Mcdonald, W. (2005). Risk, resilience and outdoor programmes for at-risk children. Journal of Social Work, 5, 319–338.

    Google Scholar 

  • Van Ryzin, M. J. (2011). Protective factors at school: reciprocal effects among adolescents’ perceptions of the school environment, engagement in learning, and hope. Journal of Youth & Adolescence, 40, 1568–1580.

    Google Scholar 

  • Vartanian, L. R., & Hopkinson, M. M. (2010). Social connectedness, conformity, and internalization of societal standards of attractiveness. Body Image, 7, 86–89.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Verhagen, S., Frits, V. W., Bogt, T. T., & Hibbel, B. (2000). Fast on 200 beats per minute: the youth culture of gabbers in the Netherlands. Youth & Society, 32, 147–164.

    Google Scholar 

  • Williamson, I., Sandage, S. J., & Lee, R. M. (2007). How social connectedness affects guilt and shame: mediation by hope and differentiation of self. Personality & Individual Differences, 43, 2159–2170.

    Google Scholar 

  • Youniss, J., Yates, M., & Su, Y. (1997). Social integration, community service and marijuana use in high school seniors. Journal of Adolescent Research, 12(2), 245–262.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zagorski, K. (1999). Egalitarianism, perception of conflicts, and support for transformation in Poland. In S. Svallfors & P. Taylor-Gooby (Eds), The end of the welfare state? Responses to state retrenchment (pp. 190–217). London: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhao, R., & Cao, L. (2010). Social change and anomie: A cross-national study. Social Forces, 80, 1209–1230.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

The paper evolves from a research grant provided by the College of Humanities and Social Sciences, City University of Hong Kong (3-2-201404)

Author Contributions

The first author handles the theory and the second author handles data collection.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Social and Behavioural Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong, China

    Chau-kiu Cheung & Jerf W. K. Yeung

Authors
  1. Chau-kiu Cheung
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Jerf W. K. Yeung
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Chau-kiu Cheung.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of Interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Ethical Approval

All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee of the City University of Hong Kong and with the 1964 Helsinki Declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

Additional information

Publisher’s note Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Cheung, Ck., Yeung, J.W.K. Parental Gratitude and Adolescent Anomie and Hope. J Child Fam Stud 29, 738–746 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10826-019-01562-x

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10826-019-01562-x

Keywords

Search

Navigation