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RUSSIAN LAW JOURNAL Volume XI (2023) Issue 11s
MATERNAL EXPRESSED EMOTIONS; NAVIGATING THE PATHWAYS OF ADOLESCENT EMOTIONAL WELL-BEING AND RESILIENCE
1DR. SHAMMEM AKHTAR, 2RABIA SARWAR,3YASIRA ZULFIQAR
1Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology, Riphah International University Faisalabad Campus,
Principle & Corresponding Author 2M.Phil. Scholar, Department of Psychology, Riphah International University Faisalabad Campus 3M.Phil. Scholar, Department of Psychology, Riphah International University Faisalabad Campus
Abstract
The present study examines the influence of maternal expressed emotions on the emotional well-being and resilience of adolescents, navigating the involved pathways that connect maternal interactions to psychological outcomes. A quantitative cross-sectional approach, was used involving a diverse sample (N=370 M & 370 A) of adolescents and their respective mothers. The study utilizes established scales to measure maternal expressed emotions, adolescent emotional well-being, and resilience. Statistical analyses, including correlation and regression analysis, are conducted to explore the relationships between these variables. The findings probe on the significant role, that maternal expressed emotions play in shaping adolescent emotional development. The results reveal correlations between specific types of maternal expressed emotions and varying levels of emotional well-being and resilience among adolescents. These findings underscore the importance of mother emotional interactions as potential contributors to the psychological issues like emotional well-being and resilience abilities of adolescents. The implications of this study extend to parenting practices and interventions aimed at promoting positive maternal expressed emotions and improved emotional wellbeing and resilience in adolescents. The research contributes to the existing literature by providing insights into the mechanisms through which maternal expressed emotions impact the intricate landscape of adolescent emotional well-being and resilience.
Keywords: Maternal expressed emotions, adolescents, emotional well-being, resilience, parenting, psychological development.
INTRODUCTION
Adolescence is a critical period marked by significant emotional and social development, shaping the foundation for long-term psychological well-being and resilience. In recent years, researchers have turned their attention to understanding the various factors that influence and contribute to adolescent emotional well-being and resilience. One such factor that has gained prominence is the role of parental influences, particularly maternal expressed emotions, in shaping the emotional landscape of adolescents.1 Adolescence, a pivotal phase of human development, is characterized by remarkable physical, emotional, and social transformations.2 The concept of well-being in adolescents encompasses a multidimensional framework that goes beyond the absence of illness or distress, embracing elements such as emotional health, social connectedness, self-esteem, and life satisfaction.3
Maternal expressed emotions, which encompass a range of affective expressions displayed by mothers in their interactions with their children, have been recognized as potential determinants of psychological outcomes among adolescents. These emotions can encompass both positive expressions of warmth, positive remarks and emotional overinvolvement, as well as negative expressions of frustration, criticism, and hostility. The influence of maternal expressed emotions on children's emotional and psychological development has been widely explored in the literature.4,5 Understanding the determinants of adolescent well-being is crucial for the development of effective interventions and policies that promote positive outcomes. The complicated interplay between biological, psychological, social, and environmental factors shapes the well-being trajectory of adolescents. Parental relationships, peer dynamics, school environments, and community contexts all contribute to this complex landscape.6, 7
The emotional well-being of adolescents is influenced by a multitude of factors, including individual, familial, and societal aspects.8 One crucial factor that has garnered attention in recent research is the concept of maternal expressed emotions.9 Resilience, a term originating from the field of materials science, has found profound relevance in the realm of psychological and human development. In psychology, resilience refers to the remarkable capacity of individuals to adapt, recover, and thrive in the face of adversity, trauma, or significant life challenges.10 This concept has gathered increasing attention as researchers, practitioners, and policymakers recognize its pivotal role in shaping human outcomes across the lifespan.
The study of resilience has revealed the dynamic interplay between risk and protective factors that influence an individual's ability to navigate life's complexities. While adversity and stress are inherent components of the human experience, not all individuals succumb to their negative effects. Resilient individuals exhibit an ability to connect inner and external resources, employ effective coping strategies, and cultivate positive psychological attributes, thereby mitigating the potential impact of adverse circumstances.11, 12
While existing research has provided insights into the broader impact of maternal expressed emotions on emotional well-being and resilience in adolescents, there remains a need for a deeper understanding of how these emotions specifically relate to adolescent emotional well-being and resilience, particularly within unique contexts such as nuclear families. Adolescents often face distinctive challenges, and the influence of maternal expressed emotions on their psychological development within this context permits investigation.
This study aims to bridge this gap by investigating the potential pathways through which maternal expressed emotions influence adolescent emotional well-being and resilience, with a specific focus on emerging youth. By examining these relationships, researchers seek to contribute to the existing literature on psychosocial determinants of emotional well-being and resilience how effects by maternal expressed emotions.
METHODOLOGY
The cross-sectional study (collects data from a population at a single point in time) conducted in Faisalabad city of Pakistan from October 2022 to June 2023. The methods and materials included in the current study have been reviewed, permitted, and endorsed by the board of Riphah International University Faisalabad. Four important ethics of individual human rights; self-esteem, skills, responsibility, and integrity were addressed in the study. The sample was mothers and their adolescents whose age range was 12-19 years with a mean age of 16 years. A sample of 370 mothers and 370 (boys=52% & girls=48%) their adolescent recruited through convenient sampling by the rule of thumb as 6 to 10 observations on single questions from the community and educational institutes. Different educational institutions were conveniently selected from different cities of Faisalabad (Chak Jhumra, Sadar, Jaranwala, Samundri and Tandlianwala). Adolescents approached with permission of the authorities and teachers of 7th to 12th-grade and graduates' students. For keeping the ethical standards, only securitized those adolescents whose parents gave the consent to participate in the study. The adolescents have clearly instructed about instruments and response choices instructions. Emotional wellbeing 13 and resilience scales with demographic sheet were applied on adolescents. Researcher selected only the same mothers of the adolescents and excluded all who were single or divorced and suffered any mental and physical disability. They were approached at their working and convenience place. For measuring the role of mother expressed emotions parental expressed emotions scale 14 was administered on mothers. They were instructed to read the items cautiously while responding. It was informed to the participants that participation will be voluntary, confidentially was assured and ethical consideration maintained by the researchers. Data was analyzed by using SPSS-25 version by applying neural networking analysis. DATA ANALYSIS
To analysis the data artificial neural network analysis was carried out by using Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS-25) and Analysis of Moment Structure (AMOS-25) for windows.
RESULTS
Artificial neural network (ANN) was used to test the hypotheses that mother positive expressed emotions are associated with adolescent's emotional wellbeing and resilience. Results revealed significant input at left side as predictor of mother expressed emotions (warmth, positive Remarks and emotional- involvement) and output on right side in the form of emotional wellbeing in adolescents in figure 1. Figure 1
Hidden layer activation function: Hyperbolic tangent Output layer activation function: Identity
The multilayer perception has two functions layers in the form of input as independent variables which are mother expressed emotions of warmth, Positive remarks and emotional over involvement, and these information goes through two layers input, hidden and output layers.15 The input layer transforms, input in the form of output or outcome variable in the form of emotional wellbeing (Table 3).
Figure 2
Hidden layer activation function: Hyperbolic tangent Output layer activation function: Identity
Figure 2 showed the Artificial neural network (ANN) to test the hypotheses that mother positive expressed emotions are associated with adolescent's resilience. Results revealed significant input at left side as predictor of mother expressed emotions (warmth, positive Remarks and emotional-involvement) and output on right side in the form of resilience.
The multilayer perception has two functions layers in the form of input as independent variables which are mother expressed emotions of warmth, Positive remarks and emotional over involvement, and these information goes through two layers input, hidden and output layers. The input layer transforms input in the form of output or outcome variable as resilience (Table 4).
Table 1: Percentage of sample data in training and testing that used for artificial neural network Division of Data N Percentage
Training 280 75
Testing 90 25
Total 370 100
Table 2: Percentage of incorrect predictions of sample during training and testing Division of Data Incorrect Prediction %
Training 0.70
Testing 0.30
Table 1 and 2 shows the results of training, testing and displays the results of training, testing and incorrect predictions for concluding network. The incorrect predictions percentage was for training data 70% and for testing data 30% which signify the current results that around seventy per cent right decisions out of 100, predicted in the form of mother expressed emotions in adolescents' emotional wellbeing and resilience by the artificial neural network.
Table 3: Parameter estimates hidden layers input and output during neural network analysis with
emotional wellbeing(N=740).
Predicted
Predictor Hidden Layer 1 Output Layer
H(1:1) H(1:2) Emotional Wellbeing
140 573 351 281
.152 .978 -.269
(Bias) -.336
, , WRMT -.280
Input Layer PSET 1.051
EOIT -.092
(Bias)
Hidden Layer 1 H(1:1)
H(1:2)
Table 4: Parameter estimates hidden layers input and output during neural network analysis with
resilience (N=740).
Predicted
Predictor Hidden Layer 1 Output Layer
H(1:1) H(1:2) Resilience
(Bias) .188 .795
Input Layer WRMT -.514 -1.364
PSET .345 -.568
EOIT -.414 .297
(Bias) -.368
Hidden Layer 1 H(1:1) -.289
H(1:2) 1.184
DISCUSSION
Adolescents frequently confront a dual set of challenges emanating from their home environment and the wider societal context. In this complex site, mothers emerge as essential figures that not only offer solid support but also provide a clear understanding of their children requirements and the intricacies of navigating others' emotions. This invaluable support mechanism equips adolescents to effectively cope with the complexities they face.16, 17
The influence of maternal expressed emotions on the emotional well-being and resilience of adolescents emerges as a complex and critical factor in their developmental journey. The pathways through which mothers expressed their emotions to their adolescent children hold the potential to mold various aspects of their emotional growth.18 In current study mother expressed emotions of positive remarks, warmth and emotional involvement showed 71% variation emotional wellbeing and in resilience that conformed the significance of maternal Positive expressed emotions can serve as a model for better emotional wellbeing and in resilience. Such expressions facilitate the cultivation of emotional wellbeing and resilience that are very important for adolescents to confront challenges.19
Role of mother expressed emotions found to be more persistent for child's emotional well-being and resilience identified that low-intensity emotions and frequent, positive emotional expression of mothers were related to children's high social competence.20 The similar findings revealed though the current study that mother expressed emotions of warmth positive remarks and emotional-over involvement positively effects on adolescent's resilience and emotional wellbeing.
CONCLUSION
In the view of current study, mothers expressed emotions has been found strongly associated with emotional wellbeing and resilience in adolescents. The study explored not only youth mental health issues like emotional wellbeing and resilience but additional navigation of variables The current study was based on the mothers' expressed emotions with their normal adolescents which is very rare study in Pakistan. Although that would be not possible to find out gender, age and institution wise differences in single study yet it will be helpful to provide grounds for future researchers to explore these aspects in their studies.
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