The Relations between Family Functioning and Self-Esteem and Loneliness in Adolescents

가족기능 및 자아존중감과 청소년의 외로움간의 관계

The relations between family functioning (cohesion, conflicts, family sociability, and democratic family style) and self-esteem and loneliness in adolescents were examined in a sample of 485 2nd-grade high school students (256 boys and 229 girls). Data were collected using three questionnaires on the loneliness, family functioning, and self-esteem of adolescents. Family functioning and self-esteem were significantly related to loneliness both in adolescent boys and girls. Adolescents experienced less loneliness when family cohesion and sociability were higher, conflicts were lower, the family style was more democratic, and self-esteem was higher. Family functioning was also related to self-esteem. The more functional the family, the higher the self-esteem of adolescents. Self-esteem played a partly mediating role in the relation between family functioning and loneliness only for boys. This emphasizes the influential role of self-esteem on loneliness.