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Previous studies have demonstrated that psychological needs frustration strongly influences adolescent depression. However, this influence's underlying mechanisms remain unknown, and related protective factors have not been identified. Based on an integration of basic psychological needs theory, the cognitive vulnerability model of depression, and findings regarding the link between psychological suzhi (a Chinese cultural construct that includes a hierarchical and integrated set of positive psychological qualities) and mental health, we assessed a structural equation model examining the mediating role of self-esteem and moderating role of psychological suzhi in the relationship between psychological needs frustration and depression. Participants were 1552 Chinese adolescents (Mage = 12.30, SD = 0.54, 49.10% male) who effectively completed paper-based questionnaires. The results indicated that psychological needs frustration significantly and positively predicted adolescent depression. Furthermore, the relationship between psychological needs frustration and depression was significantly mediated by self-esteem and significantly moderated by psychological suzhi; specifically, psychological suzhi buffered the association between psychological needs frustration and adolescents' depression. Additionally, we provide further evidence for the relationship between psychological needs frustration and depression, revealing the relevant underlying mechanisms and protective factors; these findings have practical relevance in the prevention and treatment of Chinese adolescents' depression. Highlights: Psychological needs frustration significantly and positively predicted adolescent depression. Self-esteem played a mediating role between psychological needs frustration and depression. Psychological suzhi played a moderating role in the association between psychological needs frustration and depression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In addition to family and school factors, adolescent academic performance can also be influenced by the surrounding peer groups. Based on the data from China Education Panel Studies (CEPS) between 2013 and 2014, this paper examined the association between peer deviant behaviour and adolescent academic performance. It is found that peer deviant behaviour negatively predicted adolescent academic performance, and the negative association between peer deviant behaviour and academic performance in migrant and school-boarding adolescents was obviously weaker than that in native and home-resident adolescents. This negative association was slightly reduced but still significant after controlling for potential selection bias. More peer deviant behaviours reduced adolescent academic performance by increasing their own deviant behaviours and reducing their own educational expectation. Therefore, it is necessary to guide peer behaviours and interactions and regulate adolescent deviant behaviours from a global perspective to avoid negative peer effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Previous studies on reading engagement have generally used variable‐centred approaches to examine whole‐sample averages. Few have assumed a person‐centred approach, especially latent profile analysis (LPA), to examine students' reading engagement profiles. Although one study employed LPA to identify the reading engagement profiles of Chinese adolescents, how engagement dimensions combine within individuals was not clear from its results. Methods: This study used LPA to examine the reading engagement profiles of 12,058 Chinese adolescents based on their patterns of behavioural, cognitive and emotional engagement. Additionally, how profile membership relates to self‐concept and reading literacy was examined. Results: Four reading engagement profiles were identified: engaged (moderate to high on all three dimensions), moderately engaged (moderate on all three dimensions), disengaged (low on all three dimensions) and moderately cognitively engaged (moderate cognitive engagement/low behavioural and emotional engagement). Students with a higher reading self‐concept were more likely to exhibit a pattern of moderate to high engagement. Students with higher engagement patterns attained higher reading achievement. Conclusions: Chinese adolescents showed multiple reading engagement profiles that were differently related to self‐concept and reading literacy. Teachers should be aware of subgroups of students displaying different reading engagement patterns and be able to evaluate and then address them with appropriate instructional practices. Highlights: What is already known about this topicReading engagement is a multidimensional construct consisting of behavioural, affective and cognitive dimensions.Reading engagement profiles have been found to include consistent patterns characterised by high or low reading engagement and inconsistent patterns characterised by heterogeneous engagement among the three dimensions.Reading engagement profiles have different adaptive values with respect to related variables such as self‐concept and reading achievement. What this paper addsIt identified four reading engagement profiles: the engaged, moderately engaged, disengaged and moderately cognitively engaged profiles.Profiles with higher self‐concepts generally manifested patterns of higher engagement.Profiles characterised by higher engagement were associated with higher reading achievement. Implications for theory, policy or practiceFuture research should continue to employ person‐centred approaches to investigate more detailed profiles of reading engagement, as well as their relations to multiple contextual antecedents and educational outcomes.Teachers should be aware of subgroups of students with different engagement patterns and tailor effective instructional practices.The results highlight the need to intervene with the disengaged group, as well as with those not typically identified as at‐risk by teachers, such as the moderately cognitively engaged group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hedonia and eudaimonia have been proposed as pathways to well-being. However, the direction of the causal relationship between them remains unclear. This study examined if happiness motivations may be resources leading to a happy life, or vice versa. Cross-lagged associations between happiness motivations (i.e. hedonic motivation and eudaimonic motivation) and subjective well-being (i.e. positive affect, negative affect, and life satisfaction) were tested. Four hundred and ninety-four Chinese adolescents (233 males; mean age 13.26 ± 0.70 years) participated in a two-wave paper and pencil study. The cross-lagged analysis showed that eudaimonic motivation was a significant predictor of positive affect and life satisfaction over time. No cross-lagged effects between eudaimonic motivation and negative affect, or between hedonic motivation and subjective well-being components were established. The results highlight the predictive power of eudaimonic motivation on adolescents' subjective well-being later on. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accessible summary What is known on the subject? The TAS-20 is the most widely used self-reported questionnaire to assess the level of alexithymia in students and community and clinical samples., What this paper adds to existing knowledge? The TAS-20-C exhibited high levels of reliability and validity, indicating that it is appropriate for the assessment of alexithymia in Chinese adolescents., What are the implications for practice? Screening adolescents who are at risk of alexithymia through the TAS-20 could help to perform necessary and effective precautions to decrease the adverse effects of alexithymia, such as the risks of developing depressive mood and behavioral problems., Abstract Purpose The aim of this study was to examine the psychometric properties of the Chinese version of the 20-item Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20-C) in a sample of Chinese adolescents. Method Adolescents ( n = 1260) recruited from three schools in mainland China completed the TAS-20-C, the somatization subscale of the Symptom Checklist 90 (SCL-90) and Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CES-D). Five different factorial models of the TAS-20 were tested using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). Cronbach's α, mean inter-item correlations and predictive validity were also evaluated. Results Among those five different factorial models, the four-factor structure model was suitable and invariant across gender and age in this sample. The TAS-20-C demonstrated adequate internal reliability. Gender and age accounted for insignificant amounts of variability in total TAS-20-C and factor scores. TAS-20-C total and subscale scores were correlated significantly with SCL-90 somatization subscale and CES-D. Girls scored higher than boys on difficulty identifying feelings (DIF) and pragmatic thinking (PR) subscales. DIF and lack of subjective significance or importance of emotions (IMs) subscale scores were higher among younger than among middle and older adolescents. Implications for Practice Validating the TAS-20 in adolescents is quite important to use it in evaluating adolescents' alexithymia, and screen those at risk of alexithymia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined the direct and indirect associations of general and smoking-specific parenting practices with Chinese adolescents' smoking behaviors. Adolescents aged 14-17 years (N = 658) and their parents were recruited from three high schools in mainland China. Adolescents completed an anonymous online survey on their smoking behaviors, perceptions of parenting behaviors, and smoking-related cognitions including attitude, subjective norm, and perceived behavioral control. Parents completed a paper-and-pencil questionnaire on their parenting behaviors. Results indicated that psychological control and frequency of communication about smoking were positively linked to adolescent smoking through the mediation of two smoking-related cognitions-attitude and subjective norm. Parental knowledge of adolescent activities, disapproval of adolescent smoking, and home rules were negatively linked to adolescent smoking through the mediation of attitude and subjective norm. Results suggest that parenting practices and smoking-related cognitions are critical components to be incorporated in prevention and intervention programs for adolescent smoking in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the dimensionality and factorial invariance of the Chinese Positive Youth Development Scale (CPYDS) using multigroup confirmatory factor analyses (MCFA). Secondary 1 students ( N = 5,649) responded to the CPYDS in the context of a positive youth development program. Results showed that there are 15 basic dimensions of the CPYDS which are subsumed under four higher-order factors (i.e., cognitive-behavioral competencies, prosocial attributes, positive identity and general positive youth development qualities). Evidence of factorial invariance in terms of configuration, first-order factor loadings, second-order factor loadings, intercepts of measured variable, and intercepts of first-order latent factor, was found. The findings suggest that the CPYDS has stable dimensions that can be used to assess positive youth development in Chinese adolescents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This paper examines the dimensionality and factorial invariance of the Chinese Family Assessment Instrument (C-FAI) using multigroup confirmatory factor analyses (MCFAs). Method: A total of 3,649 students responded to the C-FAI in a community survey. Results: Results showed that there are five dimensions of the C-FAI (communication, mutuality, conflict and harmony, parental concern, parental control), which are subsumed under two higher order factors (family interaction and parenting). Evidence of factorial invariance in terms of configuration, first-order factor loadings, second-order factor loadings, intercepts of measured variable, and intercepts of first-order latent factor, was found. Conclusions: The C-FAI is an objective measure of Chinese family functioning with high factorial validity. It can be used in family practice contexts of Chinese families. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]