FAMILY FACTORS INFLUENCING ADOLESCENTS’ LIFE SATISFACTION IN VIETNAM

Abstract

Objective. This study examined how family-related factors shape adolescents’ life satisfaction within the sociocultural context of Vietnam. Material and methods. The study involved 664 adolescents aged 12–18 from Hanoi and Bac Ninh provinces. Data were collected using standardized measurement tools that assessed various family dimensions, including family cohesion, parenting behavior, psychological control, parental relationship quality, children’s participation rights, and both material and emotional aspects of family quality of life. The Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS) was used to evaluate adolescents’ perceived life satisfaction. Results. Correlation analysis revealed significant positive associations between life satisfaction and factors such as family cohesion, participation rights, parenting behavior, emotional and material family quality of life, and positive parental relationships (r = .38 to .45, p < .01). In contrast, psychological control (particularly from mothers) and negative parental relationships were significantly negatively correlated with life satisfaction (r = –.18 to –.28, p < .01). Multiple regression analysis identified material quality of life (β = .15), children’s participation rights (β=.124), and family cohesion (β = .113) as the strongest predictors, jointly accounting for 32.2% of the variance in adolescents’ life satisfaction. Conclusions. The findings suggest that adolescents’ life satisfaction is substantially shaped by a supportive, emotionally nurturing, and materially stable family environment. Positive family interactions can buffer the adverse effects of psychological control and family conflict. These results underscore the importance of fostering adolescent participation and emotional bonding within the family, particularly in the context of modern Vietnamese society. Keywords: family quality of life, adolescents, life satisfaction, parenting behavior, participation rights.