Uncontrollable and controllable negative life events and changes in mental health problems: Exploring the moderation effects of family support and self-efficacy in economically disadvantaged adolescents

Background: Individuals' psychological responses to changing life circumstances may depend on the particular features of the events, as well as the external and internal resources they possess. To date, little attention has been paid to the role of uncontrollability and controllability of negative life events (NLEs) in affecting mental health problems, especially for economically disadvantaged adolescents. Aims: This study examines whether the uncontrollability and controllability of NLEs are related to changes in mental health problems and whether the moderating effects of family support and self-efficacy are apparent. Methods: A series of logistic regression models and hierarchical linear regression model were used to analyze longitudinal data on 818 economically disadvantaged adolescents in Taiwan. Results: Controllable NLEs increased the likelihood of psychiatric morbidity and the symptom levels of mental health problems during the four-year period, whereas uncontrollable events did not. Family support did not act as a moderator among the vulnerable group. Self-efficacy did not provide a buffering effect but, in fact, strengthened the relationship between controllable events and changes in psychiatric morbidity. Conclusion: To improve the mental health of economically disadvantaged adolescents, results suggest that identifying those who show inconsistencies between high self-efficacy and poor behaviors and then providing them with behavioral change strategies and the peer support system in school might be a promising approach.