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

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.