SELF-CONSCIOUSNESS AND INTERNALIZING PROBLEMS IN ADOLESCENCE: MODERATING EFFECT OF FAMILY VARIABLES

The aim of this study was to examine the association between self-consciousness and internalizing problems in adolescents, and to analyse moderating effects of family dimension. The research sample included 294 adolescents aged 14 – 21 years. Respondents completed the UCLA Loneliness Scale (Russel, 1996), the Scale of Social Anxiety and Stage-fright (Kondáš, 1978), The Self-Consciousness Scale (Fennigstein et al., 1975), The Family Adaptability and Cohesion Evaluation Scale (Olson, 2010) and Family Communication Scale (Olson & Barnes, 2010). A direct association between self-consciousness and internalizing symptoms was not found. However, results confirmed the moderating effect of family dimensions. Family cohesion moderates the relationship between private self-consciousness and loneliness; and public self-consciousness and social anxiety in boys. Family communication and adaptability moderates the relationship between public self-consciousness and social anxiety in girls. Findings indicate that family relations may serve either a risk or protective role in association with adolescent maladjustment, dependent on the family dimension and gender.