The Influencing Factors of Self-evaluation in Adolescents: A Structural Equation Modeling

Abstract Background Self-evaluation, as an expression of self-concept, becomes increasingly complex in adolescence. Parental bonding, personality traits, and psychological status were the three main determining factors of adolescents’ self-evaluation. We aimed to tested associations through a systematic approach. Methods Data were from the 2014 Chinese Family Panel Studies (CFPS). The association of parental bonding (measured by the Parental Bonding Instrument), personality traits (the Responsibility Scale), and psychological status (the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale) with self-evaluation measured in three domains (the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, the Nowicki- Strickland Locus of Control Scale for children and the Self-Discipline Scale) were tested by the structural equation modeling (SEM) analysis. Results A total of 892 Chinese adolescents were included. Significant positive correlations were found among self-evaluation, parental bonding, personality traits, and psychological status. The overall (direct and indirect) effect of parental bonding on adolescents’ self-evaluation was 0.49. Personality traits and psychological status were directly associated with adolescents’ self-evaluation. Conclusion The use of SEM offered a detailed analysis of the correlations between parental bonding, personality traits, and psychological status and a systematic approach to investigate their direct and indirect effects on adolescents’ self-evaluation. The three factors directly associated with adolescents’ self-evaluation and parental bonding indirectly affected adolescents’ self-evaluation that was mediated by both personality traits and psychological status.