Dual effects of family ritual communication on Chinese adolescents' well-being: supportive and constraining mechanisms.

Background: Adolescent well-being has garnered significant attention from researchers both domestically and internationally. Much research focuses on the connection between adolescent well-being and family dynamics. As the main source of social support, the family significantly influences adolescent well-being. Western studies have identified family ritual communication as a crucial factor that can exert both positive and negative effects on adolescent well-being. However, most studies are contextualized within Western societies, and their findings may not be directly applicable to Chinese social settings. Methods: This research employed a questionnaire survey method to examine the impact of family ritual communication on the well-being of Chinese adolescents. A pilot survey was conducted to validate the questionnaire's design before administering the final version. Initially, 150 questionnaires were distributed, yielding 144 valid responses. Following reliability and validity testing, a formal survey was conducted involving 848 adolescents aged 14 to 18. After eliminating responses with overly regular patterns, 755 valid questionnaires were retained. Results: The study elucidated the mechanisms through which family ritual communication affects the subjective well-being of Chinese adolescents, summarizing these effects as a form of psychological empowerment characterized by "support and constraint." Family ritual communication serves as a supportive element, enhancing adolescent well-being through two mediators: family intimacy and resilience. Conversely, this form of psychological empowerment can also constrain adolescent well-being due to intergenerational power dynamics. Notably, the interdependent self-concept did not moderate the relationship between family ritual communication and the adolescents' subjective well-being.