Family cohesion and adaptability effects on social anxiety among adolescents: The mediating role of experiential avoidance

Abstract

We investigated the effect of family cohesion and adaptability on adolescent social anxiety and explored the mediating effect of experiential avoidance between them. A total of 610 adolescents completed the Family Adaptability and Cohesion Evaluation Scales II, the Acceptance and Action Questionnaire II, and the Social Anxiety Scale for Adolescents. By demographics, the sample comprised 51.48% male and 48.52% female participants, with the mean age of 14.92 years (SD = 1.99). Results from structural equation modelling analysis indicated that family cohesion and adaptability significantly negatively influenced adolescents’ social anxiety. Experiential avoidance partially mediated the relationship between family cohesion/adaptability and social anxiety. Adolescents with lower family cohesion and adaptability reported reduced psychological flexibility. Additionally, they self-reported poorer coping and being more prone to experiential avoidance, which could exacerbate their levels of social anxiety. Thus, family cohesion and adaptability could affect adolescents’ social anxiety directly and indirectly.