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. 2022 Dec;32(4):1354-1368.
doi: 10.1111/jora.12694. Epub 2021 Nov 10.

The Role of Sense of Belonging and Family Structure in Adolescent Adjustment

Zoë Rejaän  1 , Inge E van der Valk  1 , Susan Branje  1
Affiliations

The Role of Sense of Belonging and Family Structure in Adolescent Adjustment

Zoë Rejaän et al. J Res Adolesc. 2022 Dec.

Abstract

The present study adopted an ecological perspective, and examined effects of sense of belonging to multiple contexts in relation to adolescent adjustment, as well as possible differences between adolescents from intact and divorced families. Self-report questionnaires were used to investigate perceptions of family, school, peer, and neighborhood belonging among 969 adolescents. Results showed that mean level differences in belonging exist based on family structure, and that levels of family and neighborhood belonging vary between post-divorce maternal and paternal households. For all adolescents, sense of belonging predicted self-reported well-being, internalizing, and externalizing problems. Belonging was found to partly explain the relation between divorce and adjustment. Improving adolescents' belonging could therefore be an important step in ensuring a better adjustment post-divorce.

Keywords: adolescent adjustment; belonging; divorce; family structure.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors whose names are listed above certify that there are no conflicts of interest in the conduct and reporting of this research.

Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
Standardized parameter estimates for the relation between family structure and well‐being as mediated by sense of belonging. Note. Family structure is dummy coded (0 = intact family, 1 = divorced family). Effects on well‐being are controlled for interparental conflict (β = −.13, p = .002), father–child relationship quality (β = .04, p = .397), and mother–child relationship quality (β = −.10, p = .004). *p ≤ .05, **p ≤ .001.
FIGURE 2
FIGURE 2
Standardized parameter estimates for the relation between family structure and externalizing problems as mediated by sense of belonging. Note. Family structure is dummy coded (0 = intact family, 1 = divorced family). Effects on externalizing problems are controlled for interparental conflict (β = .02, p = .576), father–child relationship quality (β = −.01, p = .721), and mother–child relationship quality (β = .09, p = .032). *p ≤ .05, **p ≤ .001.
FIGURE 3
FIGURE 3
Standardized parameter estimates for the relation between family structure and internalizing problems as mediated by sense of belonging. Note. Family structure is dummy coded (0 = intact family, 1 = divorced family). Effects on internalizing problems are controlled for interparental conflict (β = .07, p = .036), father–child relationship quality (β = −.04, p = .410), and mother–child relationship quality (β = .13, p = .001). *p ≤ .05, **p ≤ .001.
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