A Multi-Informant Study of Strengths, Positive Self-Schemas and Subjective Well-Being from Childhood to Adolescence

Kathlyn M. Cherry (), Brae Anne McArthur and Margaret N. Lumley
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Kathlyn M. Cherry: University of Guelph
Brae Anne McArthur: Temple University
Margaret N. Lumley: University of Guelph

Journal of Happiness Studies, 2020, vol. 21, issue 6, No 12, 2169-2191

Abstract: Abstract The parent–child relationship is important for promoting strengths and well-being for youth. Despite this, empirical research examining how parents influence youths’ strengths and well-being has lagged. The current study extends this limited research by examining whether parental perceptions of youths’ strengths as rated by the parent are indirectly related to youths’ well-being by way of youths’ self-reported strengths. Additionally, the study explored associations of youths’ positive self-schemas (reflecting a different positive construct of youths’ self) with these constructs. To date, research on youths’ strengths, self-schemas, and well-being has operated within disparate fields of inquiry, and there has yet to be an empirical investigation examining if specific strengths and self-schemas are related, and their unique associations with youths’ well-being. Participants were 281 youth (57% female; M = 13.36 years, SD = 2.18; 68.6% Caucasian) and their parent. Findings support that parental views of youths’ strengths are indirectly related to youths’ happiness and life satisfaction via youths’ own self-perceived strengths. Relations also emerged between parental perceptions of strengths, youths’ self-reported strengths and self-schemas, and youths’ well-being. Further, specific strength and self-schema themes had unique relations with youths’ happiness and life satisfaction. This study provides empirical support for the relations between youths’ strengths, self-schemas, and well-being, which may advance theoretical models of positive youth development.

Keywords: Youth strengths; Positive self-schemas; Happiness; Life satisfaction; Parenting (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
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DOI: 10.1007/s10902-019-00171-1

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