PLoS One. 2024 Apr 24;19(4):e0301914. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0301914. eCollection 2024.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Many of the college students expressed experiencing moderate or severe psychological distress. In their emergence as adults, college students encounter significant periods of drastic change. Family functions play a crucial role in determining individuals’ mental health status.
OBJECTIVES: The first objective of this study was to investigate whether family communication mediates the relationships between family dysfunctions and perceived mental health status among under/graduate students. The second objective was to investigate whether the mediation effects of family communication on the relationships between family dysfunctions and perceived mental health status differ by gender.
METHODS: The current study applied Minuchin’s Structural Family Theory with under/graduate students (N = 348) in Ohio. Structural Equation Modeling was conducted to examine the effects of family dysfunctions and communication on perceived mental health status among under/graduate students.
RESULTS: Disengaged family function significantly influenced family communication, which, in turn, significantly impacted perceived mental health (mediation effect). Enmeshed family function did not show a significant relationship with family communication, whereas family communication had a significant impact on perceived mental health (no mediation effect). The model comparison test indicated that there were differences between males and females: the structural weights of the current path models were consistent with the full models, and there was a significant difference in the effect of parents’ marital status on perceived mental health, with males being significantly impacted in both models.
CONCLUSIONS: Practitioners should recognize that improving positive communication skills within the family unit can be a realistic approach to supporting the perceived mental health of under/graduate students. Colleges/universities should offer regular education programs to promote an understanding of the relationship between family communication strategies and the mental health of under/graduate students.
PMID:38656986 | DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0301914
