Parallel Mediation of Relationship Happiness and Emotion Reactivity in the Relationship Between Family Harmony and Self-Concept Clarity in Parents

Abstract

The family environment in which an individual resides plays an important role in the shaping of self-perception. The absence of a harmonious family environment may make it difficult for the individual to develop a clear and stable self-concept clarity due to a lack of relationship happiness and emotional reactivity. Conversely, harmonious family support positively supports self-concept clarity by maintaining the individual’s relationship happiness and emotional balance. In this research, the parallel mediating roles of relationship happiness and emotion reactivity in the relationship between family harmony and self-concept clarity were examined. The model in question was tested for the first time in a sample of parents. A total of 310 adults, consisting of 63 males (20.3%) and 247 females (79.7%), participated in the research (Mean age = 38.40; SD = 7.66). Analyses conducted using structural equation modeling (SEM) showed that both variables assumed significant parallel mediating roles in the relationship between family harmony and self-concept clarity. The findings reveal that supporting parents’ relational and emotion regulation resources is important in strengthening self-concept clarity.

Keywords

family harmony self-concept clarity relationship happiness emotion reactivity

Introduction

The consistency, clarity, and stability of individuals’ self-perceptions are regarded as one of the fundamental determinants for maintaining functionality, particularly in close relationships and parenting roles. This structural characteristic is explained in the literature through the concept of self-concept clarity, and it involves the individual exhibiting clear, consistent, stable, and reliable behaviors regarding their self (Campbell et al., 1996). It is known that individuals’ accumulation of knowledge about their selves increases especially during the period from emerging adulthood to middle age, and this accumulation contributes to the development of a clearer self-perception over time (Lodi-Smith & Roberts, 2010). When the psychological consequences of the clarity and stability gained regarding the self are examined, it is observed that individuals with high self-concept clarity exhibit more positive attitudes toward life events and experience the negative effects of stress less (Ritchie et al., 2011). Furthermore, it is known that these individuals possess higher levels of self-esteem (Suszek et al., 2018) and experience less personal distress in cases where they show high empathic concern (Krol & Bartz, 2021). In contrast, it is known that individuals with low self-concept clarity face various psychological difficulties. It has been observed that in these individuals, attachment anxiety and avoidance tendencies are higher (Kural & Kovacs, 2022), they are more dependent on external approval (Stinson et al., 2008), and an increase is seen in depressive symptoms and anxiety levels (Butzer & Kuiper, 2006); they experience difficulties in decision-making processes and their psychological adjustment is lower (Bigler et al., 2001; Nezlek & Plesko, 2001). While previous studies have predominantly focused on individual differences in self-concept clarity, comparatively less attention has been paid to the contextual and relational factors that may shape it. In this regard, the family environment provides an important social context for the development of an individual’s self-perception (Lodi-Smith & DeMarree, 2018). Therefore, examining the influence of intra-family processes on self-concept clarity may be considered an important contribution to filling a gap in the existing literature.

Family harmony is a fundamental dynamic that supports the individual in developing a consistent and clear self-perception through the guidance of parents. The contribution of the family to the child is not only advisory but also plays a decisive role in terms of personality development (Holmes & McKenzie, 2019). Therefore, individual perceptions regarding family harmony are of critical importance for the physical and mental development of children (Zhan & Wang, 2021). Harmonious family structures are explained by relationships based on open communication, mutual respect, warmth, and cooperation. These relationships strengthen the bond between family members (Safaria, 2015). At this point, it is highly important for every individual to be aware of their duties and responsibilities within the family for the continuity of harmony. Especially parents play a key role in the formation of a healthy balance and functioning within family dynamics (Sitepu, 2018). In this context, as relationship harmony provides access to the entirety of family interactions, it emerges as a decisive factor in intra-family interactions (Chuang, 2005). Research has revealed that high levels of family harmony strengthen individuals’ self-concept clarity (Xiang et al., 2022). Consequently, self-concept clarity is evaluated not merely as an individual characteristic but as a dynamic structure shaped by environmental factors such as parental attitudes, intra-family interactions, and emotional support. In this regard, it is hypothesized that intra-family harmony provides a safe and supportive environment for the individual to develop a consistent and clear perception of themselves.

Relationship Happiness as a Mediator

Interpersonal harmony and interactions are the fundamental mechanisms influencing the emergence of various emotions experienced by individuals. This quality of interaction in intra-family relationships also affects individuals’ levels of relationship happiness. In this context, the concept of relationship happiness occupies an important place. Relationship happiness is a multidimensional structure encompassing the dimensions of love, happiness, stability of the relationship, the severity of problems, general satisfaction, and commitment (Tutarel-Kışlak, 2006). Marital happiness supports the experience of emotional satisfaction between spouses while also fostering the well-being and development of children by creating healthy and balanced family environments (Herawati, 2016; Khojasteh Mehr & Mohammadi, 2021). According to the behavioral approach, every positive interaction in happy marriages indicates that the relationship is satisfying and prepares the ground for the repetition of similar behaviors (Aassve et al., 2016). In this regard, while happy marriages have psychological benefits, it is known that relatively unhappy marriages increase daily and chronic stress levels (Kamp Dush et al., 2008; Sobol-Kwapinska et al., 2016).

When other factors affecting relationship happiness are examined, it is observed that a supportive spouse contributes to marital happiness (Huntington et al., 2022) and that satisfaction is one of the most important factors contributing to this happiness (Fatima & Ajmal, 2012). Another critical structure affecting relationship satisfaction and happiness is self-concept clarity. Since the self-concept develops through how the individual perceives themselves and during interactions with others (Sheikh et al., 2013), self-concept clarity is closely related to relational processes. Research shows that individuals with high levels of self-concept clarity experience higher relationship satisfaction (Lewandowski et al., 2010) and that their partners also derive more satisfaction from these relationships (Parise et al., 2019). On the other hand, it has been found that individuals with low self-concept clarity have difficulty evaluating partner compatibility and, therefore, more frequently engage in relationships with incompatible partners (Kredl et al., 2024). Considering these theoretical frameworks, it can be suggested that relationship happiness may function as a mediating role in the relationship between family harmony and self-concept clarity.

Emotion Reactivity as a Mediator

Family harmony, while generally affecting relationships between individuals and self-development, can specifically play a decisive role in the emotional experiences of parents. Harmonious relationships within the family are among the fundamental elements that shape individuals’ emotional experiences. Such family environments allow individuals to express their emotions in a safe manner and to regulate their emotional experiences (Morris et al., 2007). In this case, distant family relationships may lead individuals to respond to negative emotions in a more reactive way. Emotion reactivity refers to the intensity of emotions that emerge in individuals’ relationships and the responses they give to these intense emotions (Nock et al., 2008). This concept is also defined as the sudden and intense experience of negative emotions in the face of a distinct stimulus (Gratz & Roemer, 2004). This structure is considered important for understanding how individuals experience and regulate their emotions (Mendoza-Denton & Ayduk, 2014). Therefore, it can be expected that individuals with high family harmony will have more balanced levels of emotion reactivity.

Individuals who can regulate their emotional reactions become more easily aware of their personal characteristics and tend to accept themselves as they are (Ercengiz et al., 2023). At this point, it can be considered that emotion reactivity and self-concept clarity may be related. Rather than being a fixed personality trait, self-concept clarity has a dynamic structure that can change depending on daily events and the emotional responses the individual gives to these events (Nezlek & Plesko, 2001). In this respect, it may have reflections not only on the relationship the individual establishes with themselves but also on their relationships with others. There are various findings in the literature regarding how this structure functions in the context of interpersonal relationships. For example, studies conducted in the context of romantic relationships have revealed that individuals with high levels of emotion reactivity experience more conflict in their relationships, and this situation negatively affects relationship satisfaction (Lavner et al., 2014). Furthermore, it is stated that emotion reactivity is related not only to relational problems but also to various psychological problems such as anxiety and depression (Gross, 2015). These findings suggest that emotion reactivity may play a decisive role in both internal and interpersonal adaptation processes. Therefore, emotion reactivity may undertake a mediating role in the relationship between family harmony and self-concept clarity.

The Present Study

When the transition to parenthood is examined, it has been emphasized that this period plays a decisive role in shaping individuals’ physical and mental health trajectories (Saxbe et al., 2018). The decline in individuals’ self-perception during the transition to parenthood indicates that self-concept is shaped not only by internal characteristics but also by the social roles they assume (Chen et al., 2021). This significant role transition is considered a life period that reshapes the individual’s self-structure. Especially in these processes, the decrease in positive emotions can lead to a decrease in self-concept clarity (Slotter & Walsh, 2017). Relationship processes and the self-concept clarity of parents have been examined by a limited number of studies (Crocetti et al., 2015; Jia et al., 2022). For instance, it has been shown that the level of parents’ self-concept clarity is positively related to both their own perceived parent-child relationship quality and their spouses’ evaluations of this relationship (Jia et al., 2022). Furthermore, it has also been found that parents’ self-concept clarity plays a role in children’s self-development (Crocetti et al., 2015). In this context, the parent–child relationship should be examined in consideration of the overall cohesion within the family system. When individual risk factors are controlled for, family cohesion has been shown to be negatively associated with depressive symptoms and to function as a protective factor against life stress (Kavikondala et al., 2016). Identifying the variables that influence self-concept clarity is therefore of great importance for developing preventive and supportive strategies aimed at strengthening individuals’ self-perception. Studies conducted in this direction may contribute to understanding the relational and emotional processes that shape self-concept clarity within the framework of family cohesion. The current study conducted within this scope examines whether relationship happiness and emotion reactivity have multiple mediating roles in the relationship between family harmony and self-concept clarity. Accordingly, the following hypotheses are tested in the current research.

Relationship happiness mediates the relationship between family harmony and self-concept clarity.

Emotion reactivity mediates the relationship between family harmony and self-concept clarity.

Method

Participant and Procedure

This study was conducted using appropriate sampling methods, and parents with at least one child under the age of 18 were invited to participate voluntarily through social media platforms, parenting groups, and online communities. Participation was entirely voluntary, and no monetary compensation was offered. During the data-cleaning process, 43 questionnaires that were incomplete, inconsistent, or completed in an unrealistically short period of time were excluded, and the analyses were carried out using the remaining valid dataset. The final sample consisted of 310 parents, of whom 247 were women (79.7%) and 63 were men (20.3%). Participants ranged in age from 24 to 55 years, with a mean age of 38.40 (SD = 7.66).

Ethics

During the research process, the ethical principles outlined in the Declaration of Helsinki were followed, and professional ethical standards were adhered to throughout the study. Ethical approval for the study was obtained from the Ethics Committee of Kırşehir Ahi Evran University Social and Human Sciences Scientific Research and Publication Ethics Committee (Decision No: 2025/10/21, Date: 28.05.2025). Research data were collected face-to-face from voluntary participants, and informed consent was obtained from all participants prior to data collection. Participants were informed that their responses would remain anonymous and confidential. No financial incentive or payment was provided to the participants.

Measures

Relationship Happiness Questionnaire (RHQ)

Developed by Fletcher et al. (1990), this is a 6-item, 7-point Likert-type self-report scale designed to assess the general level of happiness in close relationships. Its adaptation into Turkish was conducted by Tutarel-Kışlak (2006), and validity and reliability studies were carried out on married individuals. The internal consistency coefficient of the scale was found to be .80, and the test-retest reliability coefficient was .86. Furthermore, its significant correlation at the level of .69 with the Marital Adjustment Scale supports its criterion validity. The RHQ is a valid measurement tool covering relationship dimensions such as love, happiness, satisfaction, severity of problems, stability, and commitment/obligation.

Family Harmony Scale Short Form (FHS-SF5)

Developed by Kavikondala et al. (2016) and adapted into Turkish by Sarıçam (2018). This 5-item scale is in a 5-point Likert-type (1 = strongly disagree, 5 = strongly agree) format aimed at evaluating general harmony among family members. Confirmatory factor analysis determined that it reflects a unidimensional structure and that the model fit is high (RMSEA = .053, CFI = .99, GFI = .98). The internal consistency coefficient of the scale was found to be .90, and item-total correlations ranged between .72 and .81. In line with these results, the FHS-SF5 was determined to be a valid and reliable tool in the Turkish sample.

Emotion Reactivity Scale Short Form

Developed by Veilleux et al. (2023), this is a 6-item unidimensional scale aimed at measuring the intensity, duration, and sensitivity of individuals’ reactions to emotional stimuli. The Turkish adaptation study was conducted by Yüksel and Ekşi (2024); confirmatory factor analysis results showed that the model yielded a good fit (CFI = .95, GFI = .96, RMSEA = .07) and the Cronbach’s α reliability coefficient was found to be .74. The findings indicate that the scale is a valid and reliable tool that can be used in Turkish culture.

Brief Self-Concept Clarity Scale

Based on the short form of the Self-Concept Clarity Scale developed by Campbell et al. (1996), it was created by Ellison et al. (2022). The scale is a 6-item brief self-report measurement tool developed to measure an individual’s momentary self-clarity. The Turkish adaptation study was conducted by İşvarlar et al. (2024), and as a result of validity and reliability analyses, the scale was determined to be a usable, valid, and reliable measurement tool in Turkish culture.

Data Analysis

In this study, SPSS was used for descriptive statistics and correlation analysis, while the AMOS statistical program was utilized for structural equation modeling. Initially, the normality test of the data was examined in the study. After ensuring a normal distribution, descriptive statistics and correlation coefficients were calculated. Subsequently, to test the hypotheses of the study, the two-stage structural equation modeling proposed by Anderson and Gerbing (1988) was applied. The first of these two stages is the examination of the measurement model, and the second is the testing of the structural model. In both models, fit index values were examined to determine the consistency between the model and the data. In the literature, it is stated that for these fit indices, CFI, TLI, NFI, GFI, and IFI values should exceed 0.90, while SRMR and RMSEA values should be less than 0.08 (Hu & Bentler, 1999). The multiple mediation model was tested using a 5,000 bootstrap sample. In the analysis of this study, the parceling technique was used.

This technique should be preferred to reduce measurement errors when single-factor scales are used (Nasser-Abu Alhija & Wisenbaker, 2006). For this reason, the parceling method was used for the variables of family harmony, relationship happiness, and emotion reactivity in the research.

Results

Preliminary Analyses

All findings obtained within the scope of the preliminary analyses are presented in Table 1. First, normality values were examined, followed by the calculation of descriptive statistics for the variables. Additionally, correlation analysis was conducted to determine the relationships between variables. As a result of the analysis, it was determined that the variables showed a normal distribution. Furthermore, it was found that the variables were statistically significantly related to each other. Family harmony (AUO) showed a significant positive relationship with relationship happiness (IMO; r = 0.339, p < .001) and self-concept clarity (KBO; r = 0.204, p < .001). Additionally, a significant negative relationship was identified between emotion reactivity (DTO) and family harmony (r = −0.118, p < .05). Relationship happiness was found to be significantly positively related to self-concept clarity (r = 0.233, p < .001). Finally, it was observed that there were significant negative relationships between emotion reactivity and both relationship happiness (r = −0.116, p < .05) and self-concept clarity (r = −0.317, p < .001).

Table 1.

Descriptive Statistics, Reliability and Correlation Coefficients for the Study Variables

Variable	1	2	3	4
1. Family harmony	‐
2. Relationship happiness	.33***	‐
3. Self-concept clarity	.20***	.23***	‐
4. Emotion reactivity	−.11*	−.11*	−.31***	‐
Mean	21.40	35.30	15.80	11.20
SD	2.49	5.05	2.81	4.33
Skewness	−.218	−.698	−.421	.097
Kurtosis	−.280	.059	−.153	−.541

Note. *p < .05, **p < .01, ***p < .001.

Following the completion of the preliminary analyses, a two-stage structural equation modeling analysis was conducted using the AMOS statistical package program. Subsequently, the significance of the mediation roles was tested using the bootstrapping method. In the first stage, the measurement model included four latent constructs (family harmony, relationship happiness, emotion reactivity, and self-concept clarity) and 10 observed variables. The fit indices obtained in the measurement model were at an adequate level: χ² (44, N = 310) = 66.416, p = .034; χ²/df = 1.532; GFI = .973; AGFI = .949; IFI = .975; TLI = .960; CFI = .974; RMSEA = .041; SRMR = .039. Furthermore, all factor loadings were found to be significant. These findings indicate that the observed variables represent the latent variables at an adequate level.

After the measurement model supported the latent structure, the structural model was examined. In this context, the multiple mediating roles of relationship happiness and emotion reactivity in the relationship between family harmony and self-concept clarity were investigated using the structural model. As a result of the analysis, the fit index values were found to be at an acceptable level (χ² (44, N = 310) = 65.782, p < 0.018, χ²/df = 1.495, CFI = 0.964, GFI = 0.967, TLI = 0.947, IFI = 0.966, RMSEA = 0.040, SRMR = 0.044); however, the path from family harmony to self-concept clarity was found to be statistically non-significant (β = −0.08, p > 0.05). Therefore, this path was removed from the model and the analysis was re-performed. Following the analysis, the fit index values were again found to be at an acceptable level: χ² (45, N = 310) = 66.490, p < .05; χ²/df = 1.478; GFI = .967; AGFI = .943; IFI = .966; TLI = .948; CFI = .965; RMSEA = .039; SRMR = .044 (see Figure 1). This finding indicates that relationship happiness and emotion reactivity play a parallel mediating role in the relationship between family harmony and self-concept clarity.

Figure 1.

Standardized factor loading for the fully mediated structural model. Note. N = 310; ^**p < .01; ^*p < .05; Fh_P parcels of family harmony; Rh_P parcels of relationship happiness; Er_P parcels of Emotional Reactivity; Sc_P parcels of self-concept clarity

The significance of the obtained mediation roles was tested using the bootstrap method. In this context, Table 2 presents the standardized coefficients for the indirect effects of the variables. As seen in Table 2, family harmony significantly predicts self-concept clarity through relationship happiness (β = .053, 95% CI = [.021, .121]). Additionally, it was found that family harmony predicts self-concept clarity through emotion reactivity (β = .036, 95% CI = [.007, .087]).

Table 2.

Indirect Effect of Parallel Mediation Model

Path	Coefficient	95%CI
Path	Coefficient	LL	UL
Family harmony → relationship happiness → self- concept clarity	.053	.021	.121
Family harmony → Emotion reactivity → self- concept clarity	.036	.007	.087
Total indirect effect	.214	.088	.352

Note. CI confidence interval; LL lower limit; UL upper limit.

In conclusion, it has been revealed that the relationship of family harmony on self-concept clarity occurs indirectly through both relationship happiness and emotion reactivity. Mediation through relationship happiness shows an effect in a positive direction, while mediation through emotion reactivity shows an effect in a negative direction. Age and gender were controlled as covariates in the model.

Discussion

The family is considered a holistic structure consisting of interconnected subsystems. The marital relationship and the parent–child interaction within this structure form the basis of healthy family functioning. One of the important factors determining the quality of family functioning is family harmony, which expresses the level of emotional bond between family members. Role transitions experienced by the individual in this holistic structure are closely related to the family system. For example, it is known that significant role transitions such as parenting reshape the individual’s self-structure, and especially in these processes, as positive emotions decrease, a decrease in self-concept clarity can occur (Slotter & Walsh, 2017). Other research in this field has also provided significant contributions to understanding the relationships between family dynamics, interpersonal processes, and self-development (Crocetti et al., 2015; Jia et al., 2022). However, it is observed that studies focusing on mediating factors to explain the mechanisms affecting family harmony in parents are limited. The study aimed to examine the multiple mediating roles of an individual’s level of relationship happiness and emotion reactivity in this relationship dynamic. The main findings obtained in this direction are as follows: (1) relationship happiness mediates the relationship between family harmony and self-concept clarity, and (2) emotion reactivity emerges as a variable that mediates the relationship between family harmony and self-concept clarity. The unique contribution of the study is that two variables with different structures, such as relationship happiness and emotion reactivity, explain the relationship between family harmony and self-concept clarity through parallel but independent pathways, and these relationships are comprehensively examined on a parent sample for the first time. In this context, the established hypotheses have been discussed within the framework of the relevant literature.

The first of the findings obtained is that family harmony in parents significantly predicts self-concept clarity through relationship happiness. This mediation model indicates that harmony within the family predicts individuals’ levels of relationship happiness, and this level of happiness prepares the ground for a clearer self-perception. Although this relationship has not been directly examined in the literature, it gains meaning through existing indirect studies. Supporting studies in the literature reveal that strong family functioning is positively related to individuals’ general happiness, life satisfaction, and harmony in romantic relationships (Zarei & Fooladvand, 2022; Çalışkan, 2017). These findings point out that harmony in the family system prepares the ground for individuals to develop satisfaction and happiness in their close relationships. On the other hand, it is a noteworthy point that the happiness experienced in marriage and close relationships is closely related to individuals’ self-concept clarity processes. It is observed that individuals with high self-concept clarity experience more satisfying, healthy, and fulfilling relationships (Parise et al., 2019), and their levels of communication, relationship quality, satisfaction, and commitment are also positively shaped by this structure (Gurung et al., 2001; Lewandowski et al., 2010). It can be considered that this two-way relationship directs self-development by internalizing the harmony and happiness in the individual’s relationship. Therefore, although there are no studies focusing directly on the relationship between relationship happiness and self-concept clarity, these indirect findings presented in the literature may show that the relationship in question is theoretically significant.

The second of the findings obtained in this study is that family harmony in parents significantly predicts self-concept clarity through emotion reactivity. According to this finding, harmony within the family significantly predicts individuals’ emotion reactivity levels, and this reactivity level contributes directly to self-concept clarity. Although this finding has not been directly examined in the literature, it gains meaning through indirect studies. For example, the decisive role of the family environment on the individual’s emotional regulation and reactivity processes is emphasized (Morris et al., 2007). Specifically, parents’ attitudes toward emotions within the family, the level of intra-family warmth, and conflict are among the factors that shape the individual’s capacity to regulate emotional reactions (Hu et al., 2023). In this direction, it can be considered that a harmonious family environment facilitates the individual’s emotion regulation skills. Self-concept clarity is a dynamic structure that can change along with daily events and emotional experiences lived by the individual (Nezlek & Plesko, 2001). This dynamic structure is also consistent with findings revealing that individuals with low self-concept clarity experience more intense negative emotions (Campbell et al., 2003). Although this study does not address emotion reactivity directly, it is consistent with current findings in terms of revealing the relationship between self-concept clarity and emotions. This situation indirectly supports our finding that changes experienced in emotion reactivity can be related to self-concept clarity. In light of all these findings, support from a harmonious family environment may offer positive indicators for an individual’s self-concept clarity by increasing relational satisfaction and decreasing emotion reactivity.

Conclusion

The primary finding of this research is that family harmony in parents significantly predicts self-concept clarity through emotion reactivity and relationship happiness. In the obtained model, emotion reactivity and relationship happiness function as variables that fully mediate this relationship. In parallel mediation models, two or more mediating variables are included to explain the effects of an independent variable on a dependent variable (Rucker & Preacher, 2019). Mediating variables are typically correlated with one another due to their effects on the dependent variable. As the level of correlation among mediating variables increases, the effect of each mediator on the dependent variable may weaken, which can reduce the strength of the indirect effects (Preacher & Hayes, 2008). Additionally, if the indirect effect has the opposite sign to the total effect, the mediating variable may be considered a suppressor (Rucker et al., 2011). If one of the mediating variables plays a suppressed role—in other words, if one mediator has a negative effect on the dependent variable while the other has a positive effect—this can lead to the emergence of offsetting indirect effects (Preacher & Hayes, 2008). In this study, emotional reactivity may also have played a suppressor role in the research model. Although no study has been found in the literature that addresses these four variables together, the current finding demonstrates consistency with various theoretical approaches and indirect studies. This situation, while revealing the unique contribution of the research, is also important in terms of drawing attention to gaps in the literature. Self-concept clarity, which is treated as the dependent variable in this study, relates to the consistency, clarity, and continuity of the individual’s self-perception. This structure is decisive in many areas such as psychological well-being, self-esteem, self-regulation, interpersonal relationships, and emotional processes (Light, 2018; McIntyre et al., 2018; Nezlek & Plesko, 2001; Rahim et al., 2021). This situation reveals that the individual’s self-perception is shaped not only by internal processes but also by the social environment and emotional processes. When the literature is reviewed, it is known that individuals with high self-concept clarity have higher life satisfaction, possess better mental health (Na et al., 2018), and experience lower levels of anxiety and depressive symptoms (Butzer & Kuiper, 2006; Van Dijk et al., 2014). Therefore, considering relationship happiness and emotion reactivity together as independent variables may play an important role in strengthening parents’ self-concept clarity levels and supporting their family harmony. These findings can offer a significant theoretical and practical contribution to the literature regarding how parents’ self-concept clarity is shaped.

Limitations and Suggestions

There are some limitations to this study. First, since the research was conducted in a cross-sectional design, although the relationships between variables have been revealed, it has not been possible to establish a causal relationship. Therefore, preferring longitudinal designs where data collected over time is used in future research is of importance in terms of examining the causal direction of the relationships, especially between family harmony, emotion reactivity, and self-concept clarity, more deeply. Furthermore, despite the findings obtained in line with the mediation model used in this study, testing the effect of the level of emotion reactivity on self-concept clarity directly by using experimental designs will contribute to filling the gaps in the literature.

Since all the data used in the study are based on participants’ self-reports, the possibility of being open to measurement biases such as social desirability and respondent bias should be considered. For this reason, there is a need for future studies in which mixed methods are used and qualitative and quantitative data sources are evaluated together.

Additionally, the fact that the proportion of female participants in the sample is significantly higher than that of males should be evaluated as a limitation that could lead to bias in gender-based analyses. Therefore, it is suggested that care be taken to ensure a more balanced gender distribution in future studies.

Footnotes

Author Note

This article was presented as an abstract paper at the 11th International TURKCESS Conference on Education and Social Sciences, held on September 18–20, 2025.

Acknowledgments

We thank the participants of this study and those who developed the measures we used in the study.

ORCID iDs

Umay Bilge Baltacı

Esra Nur Pekdoğan

Önder Baltacı

Ethical Considerations

Consent to Participate

Informed consent was obtained from all the individual participants that were included in the study.

Funding

The authors received no financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Declaration of Conflicting Interests

The authors declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Data Availability Statement

Data will be available on request.*

Pre-registration Statement

This study was not pre-registered.

Author Biographies

Umay Bilge Baltacı is a faculty member in the Department of Guidance and Psychological Counseling at Kırşehir Ahi Evran University. She completed her PhD at Necmettin Erbakan University.

Esra Nur Pekdoğan received her undergraduate degree in Psychological Counseling and Guidance at Kırşehir Ahi Evran University. She is currently pursuing her master’s degree at the same university.

Önder Baltacı, PhD, is an Associate Professor in the Department of Guidance and Psychological Counseling at Kırşehir Ahi Evran University. He completed his PhD at Gazi University.

References

Aassve

Arpino

Balbo

(2016). It takes two to tango: Couples’ happiness and childbearing. European Journal of Population, 32(3), 339–354. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10680-016-9385-1

Anderson

J. C.

Gerbing

D. W.

(1988). Structural equation modeling in practice: A review and recommended two-step approach. Psychological Bulletin, 103(3), 411–423. https://doi.org/10.1037/0033-2909.103.3.411

Bigler

Neimeyer

G. J.

Brown

(2001). The divided self revisited: Effects of self-concept clarity and self-concept differentiation on psychological adjustment. Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology, 20(3), 396–415. https://doi.org/10.1521/jscp.20.3.396.22302

Butzer

Kuiper

N. A.

(2006). Relationships between the frequency of social comparisons and self-concept clarity, intolerance of uncertainty, anxiety, and depression. Personality and Individual Differences, 41(1), 167–176. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2005.12.017

Çalışkan

(2017). Investigation of marital satisfaction with family functionality [Aile Işlevselliğinin Evlilik Doyumuyla Incelenmesi]. Sosyal Politika Çalışmaları Dergisi, 17(39), 59–74. https://doi.org/10.21560/spcd.v17i33911.337721

Campbell

J. D.

Assanand

Di Paula

(2003). The structure of the self-concept and its relation to psychological adjustment. Journal of Personality, 71(1), 115–140. https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-6494.t01-1-00002

Campbell

J. D.

Trapnell

P. D.

Heine

S. J.

Katz

I. M.

Lavallee

L. F.

Lehman

D. R.

(1996). Self-concept clarity: Measurement, personality correlates, and cultural boundaries. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 70(1), 141–156. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.70.1.141

Chen

E.Y.-J.

Tung

E.Y.-L.

Enright

R. D.

(2021). Pre-parenthood sense of self and the adjustment to the transition to parenthood. Journal of Marriage and Family, 83(2), 428–445. https://doi.org/10.1111/jomf.12709

Chuang

Y. C.

(2005). Effects of interaction pattern on family harmony and well-being: Test of interpersonal theory, relational-models theory, and Confucian ethics. Asian Journal of Social Psychology, 8(3), 272–291. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-839x.2005.00174.x

10.

Crocetti

Rubini

Branje

Koot

H. M.

Meeus

(2015). Self‐concept clarity in adolescents and parents: A six‐wave longitudinal and multi‐informant study on development and intergenerational transmission. Journal of Personality, 84(5), 580–593. https://doi.org/10.1111/jopy.12181

11.

Ellison

W. D.

Yun

Lupo

M. I.

Lucas-Marinelli

A. K.

Marshall

V. B.

Matic

A. F. R.

Trahan

A. C.

(2022). Development and initial validation of a scale to measure momentary self-concept clarity. Self and Identity, 21(8), 995–1014. https://doi.org/10.1080/15298868.2021.2010796

12.

Ercengiz

Safalı

Kaya

Turan

M. E.

(2023). A hypothetic model for examining the relationship between happiness, forgiveness, emotional reactivity and emotional security. Current Psychology, 42(21), 18355–18369. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-022-02909-2

13.

Fatima

Ajmal

M. A.

(2012). Happy marriage: A qualitative study. Pakistan Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology, 9(2), 37–42.

14.

Fletcher

G. J. O.

Fitness

Blampied

(1990). The link between attributions and happiness in close relationships: The roles of depression and explanatory style. Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology, 9(2), 243–255. https://doi.org/10.1521/jscp.1990.9.2.243

15.

Gratz

K. L.

Roemer

(2004). Multidimensional assessment of emotion regulation and dysregulation. Journal of Psychopathology and Behavioral Assessment, 26(1), 41–54. https://doi.org/10.1023/B:JOBA.0000007455.08539.94

16.

Gross

J. J.

(2015). Emotion regulation: Current status and future prospects. Psychological Inquiry, 26(1), 1–26. https://doi.org/10.1080/1047840x.2014.940781

17.

Gurung

R. A.

Sarason

B. R.

Sarason

I. G.

(2001). Predicting relationship quality and emotional reactions to stress from significant-other-concept clarity. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 27(10), 1267–1276.

18.

Herawati

(2016). The influence of couple harmony and marital adjustment to marital happiness. In International Conference on Health and Well-Being (ICHWB) (Vol. 21, pp. 119–126).

19.

Holmes

McKenzie

(2019). Relational happiness through recognition and redistribution: Emotion and inequality. European Journal of Social Theory, 22(4), 439–457. https://doi.org/10.1177/1368431018799257

20.

L. T.

Bentler

P. M

(1999). Cutoff criteria for fit indexes in covariance structure analysis: Conventional criteria versus new alternatives. Structural Equation Modeling, 6(1), 1–55. https://doi.org/10.1080/10705519909540118

21.

Zhou

Huang

(2023). Parental emotion socialization and adolescent depressive symptoms: The mediating role of emotion dysregulation and the moderating role of family cohesion. The Journal of Early Adolescence, 43(8), 1101–1128. https://doi.org/10.1177/02724316231176955

22.

Huntington

Stanley

S. M.

Doss

B. D.

Rhoades

G. K.

(2022). Happy, healthy, and wedded? How the transition to marriage affects mental and physical health. Journal of Family Psychology, 36(4), 608–617. https://doi.org/10.1037/fam0000913

23.

İşvarlar

Ekşi

Demir

İ. H.

(2024). Adaptation of the brief self-concept clarity scale into Turkish [Kısa Benlik Belirginliği Ölçeğinin Türkçeye Uyarlanması]. In Astuti

D. A.

(Ed.), Karadeniz 16th international social sciences congress book (pp. 374–380). Academy Global Publishing House.

24.

Jia

Dai

Deng

Liu

(2022). Parents’ self-concept clarity, marital satisfaction and parent–child relationship quality: Actor–partner interdependence analyses. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 39(12), 3558–3578. https://doi.org/10.1177/02654075221102095

25.

Kamp Dush

C. M.

Taylor

M. G.

Kroeger

R. A.

(2008). Marital happiness and psychological well‐being across the life course. Family Relations, 57(2), 211–226. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1741-3729.2008.00495.x

26.

Kavikondala

Stewart

S. M.

M. Y.

Chan

B. H. Y.

Lee

P. H.

K. K.

Johnston

J. M.

Chan

S. S.

Lam

T. H.

Lam

W. W. T.

Fielding

Leung

G. M.

(2016). Structure and validity of family harmony scale: An instrument for measuring harmony. Psychological Assessment, 28(3), 307–318. https://doi.org/10.1037/pas0000131

27.

Khojasteh Mehr

Mohammadi

(2021). The experience of happiness in enduring marriages: A qualitative study. Iranian Journal of Family Psychology, 3(2), 59–70.

28.

Kredl

K. F.

Kubin

Lydon

J. E.

(2024). Self‐concept clarity and the evaluation and selection of incompatible dating partners. Personal Relationships, 31(4), 1067–1089. https://doi.org/10.1111/pere.12570

29.

Krol

S. A.

Bartz

J. A.

(2021). The self and empathy: Lacking a clear and stable sense of self undermines empathy and helping behavior. Emotion, 22(7), 1554–1571. https://doi.org/10.1037/emo0000943

30.

Kural

A. I.

Kovacs

(2022). The role of anxious attachment in the continuation of abusive relationships: The potential for strengthening a secure attachment schema as a tool of empowerment. Acta Psychologica, 225, 1–8. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actpsy.2022.103537

31.

Lavner

J. A.

Karney

B. R.

Bradbury

T. N.

(2014). Relationship problems over the early years of marriage: Stability or change? Journal of Family Psychology, 28(6), 979–985. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0037752

32.

Lewandowski

G. W.

Nardone

Raines

A. J.

(2010). The role of self-concept clarity in relationship quality. Self and Identity, 9(4), 416–433. https://doi.org/10.1080/15298860903332191

33.

Light

A. E.

(2018). Self-concept clarity, self-regulation, and psychological well-being. In Self-concept clarity: Perspectives on assessment, research, and applications (pp. 177–193). Springer International Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-71547-6_10

34.

Lodi-Smith

DeMarree

K. G.

(Eds.), (2018). Self-concept clarity: Perspectives on assessment, research, and applications. Springer.

35.

Lodi-Smith

Roberts

B. W.

(2010). Getting to know me: Social role experiences and age differences in self-concept clarity during adulthood. Journal of Personality, 78(5), 1383–1410. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-6494.2010.00655.x

36.

McIntyre

K. P.

Mattingly

B. A.

Lewandowski

G. W.

(2018). Self-concept clarity and romantic relationships. In Self-concept clarity: Perspectives on assessment, research, and applications (pp. 107–124). Springer International Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-71547-6_6

37.

Mendoza-Denton

Ayduk

(2014). Priming and self-esteem maintenance: The impact of implicit self-esteem on behavioral self-handicapping. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 52, 56–70.

38.

Morris

A. S.

Silk

J. S.

Steinberg

Myers

S. S.

Robinson

L. R.

(2007). The role of the family context in the development of emotion regulation. Social Development, 16(2), 361–388. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-9507.2007.00389.x

39.

Chan

M. Y.

Lodi-Smith

Park

D. C.

(2018). Social-class differences in self-concept clarity and their implications for well-being. Journal of Health Psychology, 23(7), 951–960. https://doi.org/10.1177/1359105316643597

40.

Nasser-Abu Alhija

Wisenbaker

(2006). A Monte Carlo study investigating the impact of item parceling strategies on parameter estimates and their standard errors in CFA. Structural Equation Modeling, 13(2), 204–228. https://doi.org/10.1207/s15328007sem1302_3

41.

Nezlek

J. B.

Plesko

R. M.

(2001). Day-to-day relationships among self-concept clarity, self-esteem, daily events, and mood. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 27(2), 201–211. https://doi.org/10.1177/0146167201272006

42.

Nock

M. K.

Wedig

M. M.

Holmberg

E. B.

Hooley

J. M.

(2008). The emotion reactivity scale: Development, evaluation, and relation to self-injurious thoughts and behaviors. Behavior Therapy, 39(2), 107–116. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.beth.2007.05.005

43.

Parise

Pagani

A. F.

Donato

Sedikides

(2019). Self-concept clarity and relationship satisfaction at the dyadic level. Personal Relationships, 26(1), 54–72. https://doi.org/10.1111/pere.12265

44.

Preacher

K. J.

Hayes

A. F.

(2008). Asymptotic and resampling strategies for assessing and comparing indirect effects in multiple mediator models. Behavior Research Methods, 40(3), 879–891. https://doi.org/10.3758/BRM.40.3.879

45.

Rahim

H. F.

Mooren

T. T. M.

van den Brink

Knipscheer

J. W.

Boelen

P. A.

(2021). Cultural identity conflict and psychological well-being in bicultural young adults: Do self-concept clarity and self-esteem matter? The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease, 209(7), 525–532. https://doi.org/10.1097/NMD.0000000000001332

46.

Ritchie

T. D.

Sedikides

Wildschut

Arndt

Gidron

(2011). Self-concept clarity mediates the relation between stress and subjective well-being. Self and Identity, 10(4), 493–508. https://doi.org/10.1080/15298868.2010.493066

47.

Rucker

D. D.

Preacher

K. J.

(2019). Mediation analysis in consumer psychology: Models, methods, and considerations. In Handbook of research methods in consumer psychology (pp. 373–384). Routledge.

48.

Rucker

D. D.

Preacher

K. J.

Tormala

Z. L.

Petty

R. E.

(2011). Mediation analysis in social psychology: Current practices and new recommendations. Social and Personality Psychology Compass, 5(6), 359–371. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.17519004.2011.00355.x

49.

Safaria

(2015). Are daily spiritual experiences, self-esteem, and family harmony predictors of cyberbullying among high school students. International Journal of Research Studies in Psychology, 4(3), 23–33.

50.

Sarıçam

(2018). The Turkish adaptation of family harmony scale form (FHS-SF5): The preliminary study of validity and reliability [Aile Uyum Ölçeği Kısa Formunun (AUÖ-KF5) Türkçeye Uyarlanması: Ön Geçerlik ve Güvenirlik Çalışması]. In ULEAD 2018 annual congress: ICRE (pp. 335–340).

51.

Saxbe

Rossin-Slater

Goldenberg

(2018). The transition to parenthood as a critical window for adult health. American Psychologist, 73(9), 1190–1200. https://doi.org/10.1037/amp0000376

52.

Sheikh

Koolaee

A. K.

Zadeh

M. R.

(2013). The comparison of self-differentiation and self-concept in divorced and non-divorced women who experience domestic violence. International Journal of High Risk Behaviors and Addiction, 2(2), 66–71. https://doi.org/10.5812/ijhrba.10029

53.

Sitepu

(2018). Family harmony to student learning outcomes. IOSR Journal of Humanities and Social Science, 23(2), 71–75.

54.

Slotter

B. Walsh

M. (2017). All role transitions are not experienced equally: Associations among self-change, emotional reactions, and self-concept clarity. Self and Identity, 16(5), 531–556.

55.

Sobol-Kwapinska

Jankowski

(2016). Positive time: Balanced time perspective and positive orientation. Journal of Happiness Studies, 17(4), 1511–1528. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10902-015-9656-2

56.

Stinson

D. A.

Logel

Zanna

M. P.

Holmes

J. G.

Cameron

J. J.

Wood

J. V.

Spencer

S. J.

(2008). The cost of lower self-esteem: Testing a self- and social-bonds model of health. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 94(3), 412–428. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.94.3.412

57.

Suszek

Fronczyk

Kopera

Maliszewski

(2018). Implicit and explicit self-concept clarity and psychological adjustment. Personality and Individual Differences, 123, 253–256. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2017.11.038

58.

Tutarel-Kışlak

Ş.

(2006). Relationship happiness questionnaire (RHQ): Reliability and validity study [İlişkilerde Mutluluk Ölçeği (İMÖ): Güvenirlik ve Geçerlik Çalışması]. Kriz Dergisi, 10(1), 37–43.

59.

Van Dijk

M. P. A.

Branje

Keijsers

Hawk

S. T.

Hale

W. W.

Meeus

(2014). Self-concept clarity across adolescence: Longitudinal associations with open communication with parents and internalizing symptoms. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 43(11), 1861–1876. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10964-013-0055-x

60.

Veilleux

J. C.

Schreiber

R. E.

Warner

E. A.

Brott

K. H.

(2023). Development and validation of a brief version of the emotion reactivity scale: The B-ERS. Current Psychology, 43(14), 1–15. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-023-05323-4

61.

Xiang

Liu

Xiao

Chen

(2022). Links between family cohesion and subjective well-being in adolescents and early adults: The mediating role of self-concept clarity and hope. Current Psychology, 41(1), 76–85. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-020-00795-0

62.

Yüksel

F. H.

Ekşi

(2024). Turkish adaptation of the emotion reactivity scale short: Validity and reliability study [Duygusal Tepkisellik Ölçeği Kısa Formunun Türkçe Adaptasyonu]. In VII. International congress on educational sciences proceedings book (pp. 5–10). ASES Publications.

63.

Zarei

Fooladvand

(2022). Family functioning and life satisfaction among female university students during COVID-19 outbreak: The mediating role of hope and resilience. BMC Women's Health, 22(1), 493. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12905-022-02103-3

64.

Zhan

Wang

(2021). The development of the college students' experience of family harmony questionnaire (CSEFHQ). Frontiers in Psychology, 12, 658430. Article 658430. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.658430