2026-10-12T10:09:47Z https://api.figshare.com/v2/oai

oai:figshare.com:article/34022571 2026-09-30T00:53:52Z category_30358 portal_12 item_type_5 month_year_09_2026

Meera Patel: Sticking Together: Investigating the Impact of Family Cohesion on Children's Wellbeing Meera Patel (18087427) Clinical psychology family cohesion children’s wellbeing emotional symptoms conduct problems hyperactivity/inattention peer problems total difficulties prosocial behaviour parents’ depressive symptoms <p dir="ltr">The family system provides the primary context for children’s emotional, social, and behavioural development, with family cohesion reflecting the quality of relationships, boundaries, and engagement among family members. This study examined associations between family cohesion and children’s socioemotional functioning in families (N = 205) consisting of two-parent mixed-gender couples with an 8-9-year-old child. Children’s adjustment was assessed using parent-reported Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire scores, and family cohesion through parent reports and observed free-play and family activity interactions. Lower parent-reported family cohesion was associated with poorer child adjustment across all domains, while lower observed cohesion predicted greater conduct, hyperactivity/inattention, and peer problems. Family cohesion also buffered associations between parental depressive symptoms and poorer child adjustment. These findings highlight family cohesion as both a robust correlate of children’s adjustment and an important protective factor, underscoring the importance of targeting family cohesion in interventions to promote more positive socioemotional outcomes for children.</p> 2026-09-30T00:53:52Z Image Poster 10.17608/k6.auckland.34022571.v2 https://figshare.com/articles/poster/Sticking_Together_Investigating_the_Impact_of_Family_Cohesion_on_Children_s_Wellbeing/34022571 CC BY 4.0