Satisfaction of Young Indian Adults with their Family

Abstract

Family satisfaction refers to perceptions of family quality such as solidarity, happiness, and overall relational well-being. The present study aimed to examine the satisfaction of young Indian adults with their families. It focused on differences in family satisfaction based on gender, socio-economic status (Low/Middle/High), being the only child or having a sibling(s), and family type (Nuclear/Joint Family). In addition, it also examined the impact of family satisfaction on psychological well-being, physical health, and academic self-concept of the participants. A total of 154 participants (77 male and 77 female) aged 18-25 years were taken as the sample. The inclusion criteria were that the participant, along with their parents should be of Indian origin and should be citizens of India. They completed an online survey which contained all the four scales used in the study i.e., Family Satisfaction Scale (Carver & Jones, 1992) Psychological Well-Being Scale (Ryff, 1989), Physical Health Questionnaire (Rogers & Kelloway, 1997; Schat & Kelloway, 2000; 2003), and Academic Self-Concept Scale (Liu & Wang, 2005). The data collection was completed within two months and the data were analysed using IBM SPSS Statistics Software. Independent sample t-test indicated significant differences in family satisfaction based on family type (t(152) = 2.392, p < 0.05). Regression analysis indicated that family satisfaction significantly predicted psychological well-being (2 = 0.161, F (1,152) = 29.088, p < 0.001) and physical health-related problems ( 2 = 0.131, F(1,152) = 22.884, p < 0.001). The current study and its findings have wide implications in a diverse culture like India, where family as a unit is given considerable importance. It contributes to existing literature which can be utilized in developing intervention strategies by considering factors like family type of the individual and also while recommending appropriate parenting styles to parents by counsellors, family experts, and therapists. It also reveals the crucial role played by an individual’s family satisfaction and how it can potentially impact other significant areas of their lives.