Explaining the structural model of responsibility based on family function and social competence with the mediator role of adolescent purpose in life

Background and Purpose: Responsibility among adolescents is of great significance, and families can influence sense of responsibility by creating purpose in life and developing social competence. Herein, we aimed to investigate the structural model of the relationship of family functioning and social competence with sense of responsibility and mediating role of purpose in life in this relationship among female junior high school students.

Methods: This correlational study has practical objectives. The participants were 384 female junior high school students of District 2 of Sari, Mazandaran province, Iran. Cluster random sampling was used for sample selection. The instruments included four questionnaires: 1) responsibility scale of the California Psychological Inventory (CPI), 2) family functioning of MacMaser, 3) social competence of Felner, and 4) purpose in life of Crumbaugh and Maholick. Pearson correlation coefficient and path analysis were used to analyze the data.

Results: The results indicated that family functioning, social competence, and purpose in life have a positive significant relationship with responsibility, and in the relationship of family functioning and social competence with responsibility, purpose in life plays a mediating role (P<0.05).

Conclusion: Adolescents spend a considerable amount of time in family and school; therefore, students’ family functioning and social competence can be by providing appropriate training courses for their families and teachers. Furthermore, sense of responsibility can be reinforced among adelescents by creating purpose in life.