From Family Functioning to Psychological Richness: The Roles of Hope, Difficulties in Emotion Regulation, and Loneliness

Abstract

Psychological richness has been proposed as a third dimension of a good life, yet its relational determinants remain underexplored. Grounded in Family Systems Theory and the McMaster Family Functioning Model, this study examined the association between family functioning and psychological richness, focusing on the mediating roles of hope, difficulties in emotion regulation, and loneliness. Data were collected from 495 participants ( M  = 28.60, SD  = 8.40) using self-report measures. Structural equation modeling indicated that family functioning was positively associated with psychological richness and hope, and negatively associated with loneliness and emotion regulation difficulties. Hope was positively linked to psychological richness, whereas loneliness and emotion regulation difficulties were negatively linked. Mediation analyses showed that these variables functioned as significant mediators through parallel and serial pathways. The findings highlight the role of relational processes in understanding psychological richness.