Abstract:
Previous research has demonstrated a relation between negative family functioning, for example poor communication between family members, physical and verbal abuse, and emotional distance, and low self-esteem and depression in adults, and introversion in children. The current study examines the relation between family functioning, as measured by the Family Functioning Scale (FFS), and introversion, as measured by the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inverntory-2 (MMPI-2) in adults and further investigates the relation between family functioning and low self-esteem and depression. Participants were 107 students from a Midwestern university (51 men and 56 women) ranging in age from 18 to 36 (mean age =19.5). Participants completed computerized versions of the MMPI-2 and FFS, as part of a larger study. Zero-order correlations were calculated between the FFS total scores and MMPI-2 scales designed to measure low self esteem, depression, and introversion. Significant correlations were then entered into a stepwise hierarchical regression analysis to determine which MMPI-2 scales accounted for the most variance in the FFS scores. Results indicated that demoralization (RCd) and negative emotionality (NEGE) were the best predictors of family functioning. These results suggested that adults from backgrounds of positive family functioning are less likely to be introverted or report problems with depression and low self-esteem.
