Parental Communication and Life Satisfaction in Adolescence

Abstract

This study aims to analyze the influence of communication with the mother and father on adolescents¿ life satisfaction, as well as possible indirect effects through self-esteem, feelings of loneliness, and perceived classroom environment. These relationships, and possible gender differences, were analyzed in a sample of 1,795 adolescents (52% male, 48% female) aged 11 to 18 years-old (M = 14.2, SD = 1.68), using structural equation modeling. Results indi- cate a direct effect of communication-mother (girls: ß = .19, p < .001; boys: ß = .16, p < .05) and communication-father (girls: ß = .22, p < .001; boys: ß = .17, p < .05) on adolescent life satisfaction; and also indirect effects through self-esteem (communication-mother: girls, ß = .18, p < .01; boys: ß = .19, p < .05; communication-father: girls: ß = .28, p < .001; boys: ß = .27, p < .01) and feelings of loneliness (communication-mother: girls: ß = -.19, p < .01; boys: ß = -.21, p < .05; communication-father: girls: ß = -.31, p < .001; boys: ß = -.20, p < .01). The results and implications of this study are discussed.