The relationship between perceived family environment and psychological wellbeing: Mother, father, and adolescent reports

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Abstract
Previous research has established a link between adolescents' self‐reported levels of wellbeing and their perceptions of family environment. In particular, family environments described as being high in control and conflict but low in cohesion have been related with low self‐esteem and high depression. The present study represents an extension of research in this area. Data comprise reports from a sample of 42 nonclinical adolescents and their two biological parents. Participants individually completed self‐reported measures of self‐esteem, depression, and family environment. The present results largely confirmed the link between adolescents' self‐reported levels of wellbeing and family environment and contribute to knowledge in the area in two important ways. Firstly, given that previous research findings have been limited by single‐informant data, the multiple‐informant design of this study provides some insight into possible reporter bias. The present approach demonstrated significant levels of consistency in reports of family environment across family members. These results thereby provide some validity evidence for adolescent reports of family environment. Secondly, the present findings point to the father's wellbeing as a significant correlate of adolescent wellbeing, thereby highlighting a need to include information about fathers in any future related research.