Quality of life among adolescents in Hong Kong : general and gender-specific effects of self-efficacy and mindfulness

Abstract

This study investigated the effects of self-efficacy and mindfulness on the quality of life of Chinese adolescents. The effects of gender, age, and perceived family functioning were also examined. This cross-sectional study was based on a sample of 462 Hong Kong adolescents 11 to 18 years of age. Self-reported measures were used to collect data on the participants’ quality of life, family functioning, self-efficacy, and mindfulness. Although boys were found to have an overall better quality of life than girls, except in the social domains in which girls tend to have an advantage, none of the differences were statistically significant. The age effect among boys was insignificant but girls aged 12 or below had higher quality of life in total score and in emotional and school domains, when compared with girl aged 16 or above. Family functioning was a significant predictor of quality of life but the effect was relatively small. Self-efficacy and mindfulness were strong predictors of adolescent quality of life but the two independent variables had unique effects in different domains quality of life and the relationships between the variables were gender specific. The limitations of the study and the implications of the findings are discussed.