The role of family structure in shaping psychological experiences of emerging adults: A mixed methods study

Anganabha Baruah, Yukti Jain, Stuti Richharia, Ibtisam Nawaz and Bhavya Dhamija

International Journal of Social Psychiatry, 2026, vol. 72, issue 2, 281-293

Abstract: Background: Family structure plays a pivotal role in shaping individuals’ psychological development, particularly during emerging adulthood. Aim: In India, where joint and nuclear family systems coexist, understanding how these structures influence psychological variables such as conformity, loneliness, perceived self-efficacy, psychological distancing, and the need for affiliation is critical. Method: This study employed a mixed-methods approach to examine these variables among 470 emerging adults (298 females, 172 males) aged 18 to 25 years, recruited from urban and semi-urban areas in India. Quantitative data were collected using standardized tools, while qualitative insights were gathered through semi-structured interviews with 20 participants. Results: Quantitative results revealed that emerging adults from joint families reported significantly higher levels of self-efficacy compared to those from nuclear families ( U  = 18,945, p  = .03), while no significant differences were found in loneliness ( U  = 25,140, p  = .73) or conformity ( U  = 20,735, p  = .57). A weak negative correlation was found between loneliness and self-efficacy ( r s = −.20, p  

Keywords: Family structure; conformity; loneliness; self-efficacy; psychological distancing; need for affiliation; young adults; India; mixed-methods (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2026
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:sae:socpsy:v:72:y:2026:i:2:p:281-293

DOI: 10.1177/00207640251357093

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