Family Harmony, Basic Psychological Needs Satisfaction and Psychological Distress Among University Students: A Correlation Analysis
List of Authors
Du Jie, Muslihah Hasbullah, Rojanah Kahar, Wan Arnidawati Wan Abdullah
Keyword
Psychological Distress; Family Harmony; Basic Psychological Needs Satisfaction; University Students; China
Abstract
University students’ psychological distress has become a public health issue of great concern in recent years due to the increasing public awareness of its harmful effects on mental health and the inevitable increase in prevalence. The impact of this issue is also becoming increasingly evident in Chinese society, especially in economically rapidly developing regions such as Guangdong Province. While studies have stated that family harmony and basic psychological need satisfaction were associated with psychological health status, studies examining these variables simultaneously in the Chinese context remain scarce. The present study aims to explore the interrelationship between family harmony (FH), basic psychological needs satisfaction (BPNS), and psychological distress (PD) in university students. Specifically, this survey will investigate (i) the relationship between FH and PD, and (ii) the potential mediating role of BPNS in this relationship. This study employed a quantitative cross-sectional survey design. The Family Harmony Scale (FHS), the Basic Need Satisfaction in General Scale (BNSG-S) and the Hopkins Symptom Checklist (HSCL-25) were used to collect data in the survey of 448 undergraduate students from two universities in Guangdong Province, China. Descriptive statistics, correlation analysis, regression analysis, and mediation analysis were employed for the statistical analysis of the data. The PD of Guangdong university students were indirectly affected by FH through the mediation of BPNS. There was a positive correlation between FH and BPNS (p < 0.05), a negative correlation between FH and PD (p < 0.05), and a negative correlation between BPNS and PD (p < 0.01). BPNS played a potential mediating role in the relationship between FH and PD. Higher levels of FH and BPNS may serve as protective factors for PD in university students in Guangdong, China. These findings may provide empirical evidence for future design of culturally relevant interventions for parents, educators, and policymakers.