Family Functioning, Cognitive Autonomy and Psychological Adjustment In Adolescents

The present study aimed to ascertain the relationship among family functioning, cognitive autonomy and psychological adjustment in adolescents. Correlational research design was used in the study. It was hypothesized that there would likely to be a relationship among family functioning, cognitive autonomy and psychological adjustment and that family functioning and cognitive autonomy would predict psychological adjustment in adolescents. It was also hypothesized that cognitive autonomy would likely to moderate relationship between family functioning and psychological adjustment in adolescents. The study sample consisted of 296 participants with an age range of 14-18 years, mean age of 17.29 including 159 males and 137 females, recruited by using convenient sampling strategy. Online data collection was carried out via Google forms by reaching out to the teachers of public and private institutions. The General Functioning subscale of Family Assessment Device, the Cognitive Autonomy and Self-evaluation inventory, and the Personality Assessment Questionnaire were used to determine family functioning, cognitive autonomy, and psychological adjustment, respectively, in adolescents. Pearson Product Moment Correlation, Hierarchical Regression, and Hayes Process Model were used to analyze the data. Results revealed a significant positive relationship among family functioning, cognitive autonomy and psychological adjustment. Further findings revealed that family functioning was a significant predictor of psychological adjustment in adolescents, however, cognitive autonomy was not found as a moderator in the current study. The findings will provide insight about the parents related to adjustment issues of adolescents and mental health professionals to carry out programs related to effective parenting and healthy family functioning.