The longitudinal relationships of neophobia with family life satisfaction: a cross-lagged panel analysis of happiness externality and family harmony

Abstract

This study investigated the longitudinal associations between neophobia, externality of happiness, family harmony, and family life satisfaction. Data were collected from 315 Turkish adults (M = 24.14 years) across two waves with a five-month interval. Applying a Cross-Lagged Panel Model (CLPM) to assess temporal precedence, the results revealed that neophobia at Time 1 significantly and positively predicted family harmony at Time 2. This longitudinal link, while counterintuitive, suggests that a dispositional resistance to novelty may function as a stabilizing factor within the family system by potentially reinforcing established routines. Furthermore, neophobia was found to positively predict the externality of happiness, which in turn had a negative impact on family harmony. Finally, family harmony emerged as a significant predictor of family life satisfaction. The findings are discussed within the frameworks of Family Systems Theory and Self-Determination Theory, emphasizing the role of individual dispositions in maintaining relational stability in specific cultural contexts.