The relationship between nuclear family emotional system and adult health: mediating and moderating role of general self-efficacy

Bowen theory postulates that personal psychosocial, and physical functioning is affected by anxiety and problems that are generated by interactions among family members. Nuclear family emotional system (NFES) is a concept that explains the development of issues in the family system. However, the relationship between NFES and adult's physical health is unclear, since there is a lack of research on this topic. This study aimed at evaluating the mediating and moderating role of general self-efficacy in the relationship between NFES and adult's physical health. A sample consisted of 282 married or cohabiting participants (95% female; age 36.27 +/- 5.78 years) having children from 3 to 18 years. Structural equation modelling was used to evaluate the hypothesized relationships among the variables. Results revealed that more destructive NFES correlates with lower self-efficacy, which in turn associates with worse subjective evaluation of health. Findings did not support the moderation hypothesis for subjective health indicators. Findings are partly consistent with Bowen theory and suggest that destructive family emotional system, directly and indirectly, affects adults subjectively evaluated physical health. No hypothesized associations between NFES, self-efficacy and objective health indicators stimulate studying different health aspects concerning the family emotional system in depth.