| This study examined the influence of family communication patterns on adolescents' experiences of self-discrepancies and the associated emotional and behavioral consequences of self-discrepancies. An extension of Higgins's (1987) self-discrepancy theory, it focuses on the self-discrepancies related to three elements of the self-concept, the actual/own self, the actual/parent self, and the self-with-parent self. These self-discrepancies are argued to be especially important for adolescents' psychological well-being.;One hundred and twenty six middle adolescents (ages 14-18) completed the questionnaire, which measured self-discrepancies, family communication patterns, perceived understanding, the suppressed self, anxiety, depression, frustration, loneliness, happiness, and performance adjustment. Results showed that conversation and conformity orientations predict different types of self-discrepancies, which in turn were uniquely associated with perceived understanding and the suppressed self. These two psychological states were further associated with anxiety, depression, loneliness, and happiness. Moreover, the influence of adolescents' experiences of self-discrepancies on their emotional experiences as well as their adjustment differed depending on their families' communication patterns. The interpretations and implications of these results are discussed in this dissertation. |
