Family Members' Well-Being, Mindfulness, Loneliness, and Social Support: A Dyadic Approach

Abstract

Introduction: Individual experiences within the family can influence its dynamics in relation to each other. The current study investigated the mediating role of adolescent and parent mindfulness in the relationship between adolescents' loneliness and their parents' perceived social support, parent mental well-being, and adolescent subjective well-being. Subjective well-being refers primarily to individuals' cognitive evaluations of their life and their affective experiences, whereas mental well-being involves broader psychological functioning such as coping, productivity, and one's sense of capability. Method: A dyadic approach was implemented by employing the actor-partner interdependence mediation model, which involved 517 adolescents and one of their parents (N = 1034). The mean age of the adolescent participants was 15.04 years (SD = 1.19), and the mean age of the parent participants was 42.67 years (SD = 5.89). Results: The analysis revealed a substantial correlation between adolescent loneliness, mindfulness, subjective well-being as an actor effect, and the mental well-being, mindfulness, and social support of parents. Furthermore, mindfulness mediated these relationships. Parental mindfulness served as a mediator between subjective well-being and adolescent loneliness as a partner effect. Adolescent mindfulness mediated the relationship between parental perceived social support and mental well-being. Discussion: Findings highlight the significance of family members' mindfulness in promoting well-being in the presence of adolescents who experienced loneliness within the family or parents who perceived low levels of social support. Thus, mindfulness-based therapies for adolescents and parents are important for improved well-being, especially in households with socially challenged adolescents and parents.