Top

Journal of Happiness Studies

Published in:

01-12-2024 | Research Paper

How Can Family Contribute to Youth’s Purpose Exploration and Commitment? The Roles of Interest Support and Autonomy Support

Authors: Hung-Yang Chen, Ching-Ling Cheng

Published in: Journal of Happiness Studies | Issue 8/2024

Activate our intelligent search to find suitable subject content or patents.

search-config

AI-assisted search

Off

Abstract

Evidence suggests that family is a cornerstone of youth’s purpose development. However, relevant findings were largely derived from Western contexts. The current research aims to investigate the effects family interest support and parents’ autonomy support (i.e., promotion of independence and promotion of volitional functioning) have on youth’s purpose exploration and commitment over middle adolescence in Taiwan. A total of 369 Taiwanese vocational high school students (45% females; mean age = 15.82 years old at the first investigation) partook in this study. Participating youth rated family interest support, parents’ autonomy support, and youth’s purpose exploration and commitment through questionnaires during the fall of their tenth and eleventh grades with approximately a one-year interval. A cross-lagged analysis showed that family support for interests was associated with youth’s increased purpose commitment one year later and parents’ promotion for independence was associated with youth’s enhanced purpose exploration one year later. Parents’ promotion of volitional functioning was not associated with youth’s purpose exploration or commitment one year later. In line with prior studies conducted in Western cultures in demonstrating the significant role of the family in cultivating youth’s purpose development, the current research shows that various aspects of family support may yield different effects on the two purpose dimensions. Parents’ promotion of independence fosters youth to explore their purpose in life, particularly during adolescence where independence is of great concern. When youth become gradually aware of their interests, supporting youth’s interests helps youth sustain their commitment to purpose over time.

next article An Individual-Based Hybrid Well-Being Theory

Dont have a licence yet? Then find out more about our products and how to get one now:

Springer Professional "Wirtschaft+Technik"

Online-Abonnement

Mit Springer Professional "Wirtschaft+Technik" erhalten Sie Zugriff auf:

über 102.000 Bücher
über 537 Zeitschriften

aus folgenden Fachgebieten:

Automobil + Motoren
Bauwesen + Immobilien
Business IT + Informatik
Elektrotechnik + Elektronik
Energie + Nachhaltigkeit
Finance + Banking
Management + Führung
Marketing + Vertrieb
Maschinenbau + Werkstoffe
Versicherung + Risiko

Jetzt Wissensvorsprung sichern!

inform now

Springer Professional "Wirtschaft"

Online-Abonnement

Mit Springer Professional "Wirtschaft" erhalten Sie Zugriff auf:

über 67.000 Bücher
über 340 Zeitschriften

aus folgenden Fachgebieten:

Bauwesen + Immobilien
Business IT + Informatik
Finance + Banking
Management + Führung
Marketing + Vertrieb
Versicherung + Risiko

Jetzt Wissensvorsprung sichern!

inform now

Available only for authorised users

Assor, A. (2018). The striving to develop an authentic inner compass as a key component of adolescents’ need for autonomy: Parental antecedents and effects on identity, well-being, and resilience. In B. Soenens, M. Vansteenkiste, & S. Van Petegem (Eds.), Autonomy in adolescent development: Towards conceptual clarity (pp. 119–144). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315636511-6

Assor, A., Soenens, B., Yitshaki, N., Ezra, O., Geifman, Y., & Olshtein, G. (2020). Towards a wider conception of autonomy support in adolescence: The contribution of reflective inner-compass facilitation to the formation of an authentic inner compass and well-being. Motivation and Emotion, 44(2), 159–174. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11031-019-09809-2CrossRef

Benson, P. L., & Scales, P. C. (2009). The definition and preliminary measurement of thriving in adolescence. The Journal of Positive Psychology, 4(1), 85–104. https://doi.org/10.1080/17439760802399240CrossRef

Blattner, M. C., Liang, B., Lund, T., & Spencer, R. (2013). Searching for a sense of purpose: The role of parents and effects on self-esteem among female adolescents. Journal of Adolescence, 36(5), 839–848. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.adolescence.2013.06.008CrossRef

Bronk, K. C. (2011). The role of purpose in life in healthy identity formation: A grounded model. New Directions for Youth Development, 2011(132), 31–44. https://doi.org/10.1002/yd.426CrossRef

Bronk, K. C. (2012). A grounded theory of the development of noble youth purpose. Journal of Adolescent Research, 27(1), 78–109. https://doi.org/10.1177/0743558411412958CrossRef

Bronk, K. C. (2014). Purpose in life: A critical component of optimal youth development. Springer Netherlands. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-7491-9

Bronk, K. C., Hill, P. L., Lapsley, D. K., Talib, N., & Finch, H. (2009). Purpose, hope, and life satisfaction in three age groups. The Journal of Positive Psychology, 4(6), 500–510. https://doi.org/10.1080/17439760903271439CrossRef

Bundick, M., Andrews, M., Jones, A., Mariano, J. M., Bronk, K. C., & Damon, W. (2006). Revised youth purpose survey. Unpublished instrument, Stanford Center on Adolescence.

Chen, F. F. (2007). Sensitivity of goodness of fit indexes to lack of measurement invariance. Structural Equation Modeling: A Multidisciplinary Journal, 14(3), 464–504. https://doi.org/10.1080/10705510701301834CrossRef

Chen, H. Y., & Cheng, C. L. (2020). Developmental trajectory of purpose identification during adolescence: Links to life satisfaction and depressive symptoms. Journal of Adolescence, 80, 10–18. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.adolescence.2020.01.013CrossRef

Chen, H. Y., Chiou, H., & Cheng, C. L. (2022). Purpose trajectories during middle adolescence: The roles of family, teacher, and peer support. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 51(2), 291–304. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10964-021-01548-3CrossRef

Costa, S., Gugliandolo, M. C., Barberis, N., Cuzzocrea, F., & Liga, F. (2019). Antecedents and consequences of parental psychological control and autonomy support: The role of psychological basic needs. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 36(4), 1168–1189. https://doi.org/10.1177/0265407518756778CrossRef

Damon, W. (2008). The path to purpose: Helping our children find their calling in life. Free Press.

Damon, W., Menon, J., & Bronk, K. C. (2003). The development of purpose during adolescence. Applied Developmental Science, 7(3), 119–128. https://doi.org/10.1207/s1532480xads0703_2CrossRef

Dietrich, J., & Kracke, B. (2009). Career-specific parental behaviors in adolescents’ development. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 75(2), 109–119. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvb.2009.03.005CrossRef

Fousiani, K., Van Petegem, S., Soenens, B., Vansteenkiste, M., & Chen, B. (2014). Does parental autonomy support relate to adolescent autonomy? An in-depth examination of a seemingly simple question. Journal of Adolescent Research, 29(3), 299–330. https://doi.org/10.1177/0743558413502536CrossRef

Grolnick, W. S. (2003). The psychology of parental control: How well-meant parenting backfires. Erlbaum. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781410606303

Hill, P. L., & Burrow, A. L. (2012). Viewing purpose through an Eriksonian lens. Identity, 12(1), 74–91. https://doi.org/10.1080/15283488.2012.632394CrossRef

Hill, N. E., Liang, B., Price, M., Polk, W., Perella, J., & Savitz-Romer, M. (2018). Envisioning a meaningful future and academic engagement: The role of parenting practices and school‐based relationships. Psychology in the Schools, 55(6), 595–608. https://doi.org/10.1002/pits.22146CrossRef

Hill, P. L., Schultz, L. H., Jackson, J. J., & Andrews, J. A. (2019). Parent-child conflict during elementary school as a longitudinal predictor of sense of purpose in emerging adulthood. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 48(1), 145–153. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10964-018-0912-8CrossRef

Inguglia, C., Liga, F., Lo Coco, A., Musso, P., & Ingoglia, S. (2018). Satisfaction and frustration of autonomy and relatedness needs: Associations with parenting dimensions and psychological functioning. Motivation and Emotion, 42(5), 691–705. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11031-018-9702-6CrossRef

Joussemet, M., Landry, R., & Koestner, R. (2008). A self-determination theory perspective on parenting. Canadian Psychology, 49(3), 194–200. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0012754CrossRef

Lekes, N., Gingras, I., Philippe, F. L., Koestner, R., & Fang, J. (2010). Parental autonomy-support, intrinsic life goals, and well-being among adolescents in China and North America. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 39(8), 858–869. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10964-009-9451-7CrossRef

Li, Y. I., & Cheng, C. L. (2022). Purpose profiles among Chinese adolescents: Association with personal characteristics, parental support, and psychological adjustment. The Journal of Positive Psychology, 17(1), 102–116. https://doi.org/10.1080/17439760.2020.1832242CrossRef

Liang, B., Lund, T., Mousseau, A., White, A. E., Spencer, R., & Walsh, J. (2018). Adolescent girls finding purpose: The role of parents and prosociality. Youth & Society, 50(6), 801–817. https://doi.org/10.1177/0044118X17697850CrossRef

Luyckx, K., Soenens, B., Goossens, L., & Vansteenkiste, M. (2007). Parenting, identity formation, and college adjustment: A mediation model with longitudinal data. Identity, 7(4), 309–330. https://doi.org/10.1080/15283480701600785CrossRef

Malin, H., Reilly, T. S., Quinn, B., & Moran, S. (2014). Adolescent purpose development: Exploring empathy, discovering roles, shifting priorities, and creating pathways. Journal of Research on Adolescence, 24(1), 186–199. https://doi.org/10.1111/jora.12051CrossRef

Martela, F., Ryan, R. M., & Steger, M. F. (2018). Meaningfulness as satisfaction of autonomy, competence, relatedness, and beneficence: Comparing the four satisfactions and positive affect as predictors of meaning in life. Journal of Happiness Studies, 19(5), 1261–1282. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10902-017-9869-7CrossRef

McKnight, P. E., & Kashdan, T. B. (2009). Purpose in life as a system that creates and sustains health and well-being: An integrative, testable theory. Review of General Psychology, 13(3), 242–251. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0017152CrossRef

Moran, S., Bundick, M. J., Malin, H., & Reilly, T. S. (2013). How supportive of their specific purposes do youth believe their family and friends are? Journal of Adolescent Research, 28(3), 348–377. https://doi.org/10.1177/0743558412457816CrossRef

Muthén, L. K., & Muthén, B. O. (1998–2017). Mplus user’s guide (8th ed.). Muthén & Muthén.

Pfund, G. N. (2023). Applying an Allportian trait perspective to sense of purpose. Journal of Happiness Studies, 24(4), 1625–1642. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10902-023-00644-4CrossRef

Pfund, G. N., & Lewis, N. A. (2020). Aging with purpose: Developmental changes and benefits of purpose in life throughout the lifespan. In P. L. Hill, & M. Allemand (Eds.), Personality and healthy aging in Adulthood (pp. 27–42). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-32053-9_3

Reeve, J., Ryan, R. M., Cheon, S. H., Matos, L., & Kaplan, H. (2022). Supporting students’ motivation: Strategies for success (1st edition). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003091738

Ryff, C. D. (1989). Happiness is everything, or is it? Explorations on the meaning of psychological well-being. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 57(6), 1069–1081. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.57.6.1069CrossRef

Silk, J. S., Morris, A. S., Kanaya, T., & Steinberg, L. (2003). Psychological control and autonomy granting: Opposite ends of a continuum or distinct constructs? Journal of Research on Adolescence, 13(1), 113–128. https://doi.org/10.1111/1532-7795.1301004CrossRef

Soenens, B., & Vansteenkiste, M. (2005). Antecedents and outcomes of self-determination in 3 life domains: The role of parents’ and teachers’ autonomy support. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 34(6), 589–604. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10964-005-8948-yCrossRef

Soenens, B., Vansteenkiste, M., Lens, W., Luyckx, K., Goossens, L., Beyers, W., & Ryan, R. M. (2007). Conceptualizing parental autonomy support: Adolescent perceptions of promotion of independence versus promotion of volitional functioning. Developmental Psychology, 43(3), 633–646. https://doi.org/10.1037/0012-1649.43.3.633CrossRef

Soenens, B., Vansteenkiste, M., Van Petegem, S., Beyers, W., & Ryan, R. M. (2018). How to solve the conundrum of adolescent autonomy? On the importance of distinguishing between independence and volitional functioning. In B. Soenens, M. Vansteenkiste, & S. Van Petegem (Eds.), Autonomy in adolescent development: Towards conceptual clarity (pp. 1–32). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315636511-1

Soenens, B., Vansteenkiste, M., & Beyers, W. (2019). Parenting adolescents. In M. H. Bornstein (Ed.), Handbook of parenting, Vol. 1: Children and parenting (3rd edition, pp. 101–167). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780429440847-4

Vandenberg, R. J., & Lance, C. E. (2000). A review and synthesis of the measurement invariance literature: Suggestions, practices, and recommendations for organizational research. Organizational Research Methods, 3(1), 4–70. https://doi.org/10.1177/109442810031002CrossRef

Vasquez, A. C., Patall, E. A., Fong, C. J., Corrigan, A. S., & Pine, L. (2016). Parent autonomy support, academic achievement, and psychosocial functioning: A meta-analysis of research. Educational Psychology Review, 28(3), 605–644. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10648-015-9329-zCrossRef

Yu, M. V. B., & Deutsch, N. L. (2020). Supporting youth purpose in adolescence: Youth-adult relationships as ecological assets. In A. L. Burrow, & P. L. Hill (Eds.), The ecology of purposeful living across the lifespan (pp. 115–135). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-52078-6_7

Zhang, Y. C., Zhou, N., Cao, H., Liang, Y., Yu, S., Li, J., Deng, L., Sun, R., Wu, Q., Li, P., Xiong, Q., Nie, R., & Fang, X. (2019). Career-specific parenting practices and career decision-making self-efficacy among Chinese adolescents: The interactive effects of parenting practices and the mediating role of autonomy. Frontiers in Psychology, 10, 363. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2019.00363CrossRef

Title: How Can Family Contribute to Youth’s Purpose Exploration and Commitment? The Roles of Interest Support and Autonomy Support
Authors: Hung-Yang Chen
Ching-Ling Cheng
Publication date: 01-12-2024
Publisher: Springer Netherlands
Published in: Journal of Happiness Studies / Issue 8/2024
Print ISSN: 1389-4978
Electronic ISSN: 1573-7780
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10902-024-00824-w

Trajectories of Personal Growth among First-Time Parents: The Predicting Role of Coping Flexibility and Parental Distress

Open Access
Research Paper

The Effect of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Life Satisfaction: Does Social Belonging Matter as a Mechanism and are There Differences by Age?

Open Access
Research Paper

How Locus of Control Predicts Subjective Well-Being and its Inequality: The Moderating Role of Social Values

Open Access
Research Paper

The Effect of Online Multi-Component Positive Psychology Intervention on Adolescents’ Risky Behaviors and Psychological Flexibility: A Mixed Method Study

Research Paper

Disability and Life Satisfaction: The Role of Accessibility

Research Paper

Measuring Happiness and Life Satisfaction amongst Swedish Citizens: an Inquiry into Semantic Equivalence in Comparative Survey Research

Open Access
Research Paper