Modelling life satisfaction of Chinese adolescents in Hong Kong

The inuence of self-concept and relationship on life satisfaction of adolescents was examined in 1099 Hong Kong Chinese junior high school children. Based on past research, it was hypothesised that self-concept and relationship are not independent of each other, and that they both have direct contribution toward the perception of life satisfaction in adolescents. Data were analysed using the structural equation modelling (SEM) technique. To test our hypotheses, we rst proposed a structural model with self-concept and relationship as latent constructs and predictors of life satisfaction. The data collected were then tted to the model by SEM. The results generally showed that the data t the model well and that our hypotheses were conrmed. Specically, it was demonstrated that the relationship construct exerts a greater inuence on life satisfaction than the self-concept construct. For the relationship construct, parent-child relationship is much more important than school-child relationship. The resultant structural model therefore provides a concise summary of the existing data on life satisfaction of adolescents but its general application requires replication and validation in other cultural contexts. Early developmental theorists described adolescence as a period of emotional upheaval and turmoil which is caused by the struggle between independence and family control (e.g., Erickson, 1968). According to the turmoil hypothesis, the transition from adolescence into adulthood is not a smooth one and the resulting emotional instability often causes mental health problems. Research ndings, however, have failed to conrm this hypothesis. For example, as indicated by the Monthly Vital Statistics Report (October, 1995), suicide rates for young people in the United States is about the same as or even lower than that for older age groups. Furthermore, the prevalence of mental health or emotional problems in adolescents does not appear to be higher than other ag