Peer-reviewed article
Child well‐being in the context of family harmony: Parental marital relationship as mediator and parent–child attachment style as moderator
Norzarina Mohd Zaharim, Intan Hashimah Mohd Hashim ·
Summary
Written by AI, not yet AICS's view · claude-haiku-4-5-20251001This study examined how children's self-efficacy, parental marital relationships, and parent-child attachment influence well-being among 955 Malaysian children aged 11 years. The research found that parental harmony (but not conflict) mediates the relationship between children's self-efficacy and their well-being. Parent-child attachment style was found to modify how self-efficacy affects well-being. The findings suggest that family relationships are important factors shaping middle childhood well-being in Malaysia.
Key points
- Parental harmony was a significant mediator between children's self-efficacy and well-being
- Parental conflict was not a significant mediator for the relationship between self-efficacy and well-being
- Parent-child attachment style significantly moderated the relationship between self-efficacy and well-being
- Study conducted with 955 Malay-Malaysian children aged 11 years from intact families
- Findings relevant to Malaysia's SDG 3 and National Family Policy
Limitations
The study used a cross-sectional design, which cannot establish causation or identify temporal relationships. The sample was limited to Malay-Malaysian children from intact families, limiting generalizability to other ethnic groups and family structures in Malaysia.
Abstract
Abstract Extant research in Western countries have indicated that children's well‐being may be influenced by children's own resilience, parent–child attachment, and parental marital relationship. Yet, there is very little research in Malaysia on how these factors may influence well‐being among children in middle childhood. The aim of this study, therefore, was to explore the relationships among children's self‐efficacy—a resilience factor—and well‐being, parental marital relationship, and parent–child attachment style. The study used a quantitative, cross‐sectional survey method. Participants were 955 Malay‐Malaysian children aged 11 years from intact families. They responded to a questionnaire on demographic background, self‐efficacy, well‐being, parental harmony and conflict, and parent–child attachment style. Moderated mediation analysis indicated that (i) parental harmony was a significant mediator for the relationship between children's self‐efficacy and well‐being; (ii) parental conflict was not a significant mediator for the relationship between children's self‐efficacy and well‐being; and (iii) parent–child attachment style was a significant moderator for the relationship between children's self‐efficacy and well‐being. These findings are discussed within the frameworks of optimal child development and family relationship. These findings may also inform policies such as Malaysia's Sustainable Development Goal 3 (SDG 3) and National Family Policy.