The effects of family functionings and personality to depressive symptoms among college students

• Main Authors: Liang-Lin Chien, 簡良霖
• Other Authors: Huei-Chen Ko
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 2006
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/88892364513864436619

碩士 === 國立成功大學 === 行為醫學研究所 === 94 === Background Depressive symptoms manifested in emotional, physiological, behavioral, and cognitive facets, influenced individuals’ various abilities. Recent domestic surveys showed that the rate of minor to severe depression in the college student population was over 50%, emphasizing the importance to study college students’ depressive symptoms. According to past researches, an association was found between family functioning and depressive symptoms; a dysfunctional family might cause an individual to become depress or worsen concurrent depression. However, little was known about the underlying mechanisms between the variables. Recent researches found relationships between depressive symptoms and Neuroticism, Extraversion, Agreeableness, and Conscientiousness in the Five-Factor Model and there personalities were relevant to family functioning. Therefore, the present study made the assumption that family functioning influenced individual personality changes, which further caused the development of depressive symptoms. Objective The present study intended to prove the mediation role of personality in the relationship between family functioning and depressive symptoms. Methods A longitudinal design was taken. Participants: The sample was recruited by a stratified and cluster sampling from Southern Taiwan university students. Inventories: Ko’s Depression Inventory, Shortened Family Function Inventory, and Shortened Chinese Version of Five-Factor Inventory were administered. Procedures: In 2003 and 2004, research statements and informed consents were given to the same participants, followed by inventory-administering. Statistical Analyses: Structural Equation Model Analysis was used to examine the mediation model. Results and Discussion Retrieval rate of inventories was 72.86% in 2003 and follow-up rate was 47.20% during the following year. The final valid sample totalled 1,208. The hypothesis model was modified according to preliminary results and past researches; Extraversion was removed as a mediator. The modification model met most standards of fit indexes. The analysis results of the modification model did not support the mediation roles of Neuroticism, Agreeableness, and Conscientiousness between family functioning and depressive symptoms. Instead, after controlling for concurrent depressive symptoms, family dysfunctions and Neuroticism independently predicted the depressive symptoms in the next year. Thirty five percent of the variance in depressive symptoms during the second year could be explained by those study variables. Limitation 1) The low retrieval rate and follow-up rate raised the concern of representability. However, no notable differences were found between the valid sample and those who were excluded or not followed. 2) The family functioning and personality were assessed in the concurrent phase so the causality could not be established. 3) There was no objective information, e.g. observer reports or clinical diagnoses. 4) Other relevant variables to depressive symptoms were not incorporated. Conclusion and Suggestion Conclusion: In the present study, the longitudinal data supported that personality did not mediate the relationship between family functioning and depressive symptoms, and instead, family dysfunction and Neuroticism independently and directly increased individuals’ future depressive symptoms. Suggestion: Future researches can explore the direction of causality between family functioning and personality or take objective information into account. In clinical application, we can locate potential risk groups of depressive symptoms by assessing family functioning and personality and introducing them to prevention programs. Treatment can be done via improving personality and family functioning.