Relationship of Expressing Emotion in the Family, Psychological Acceptance and Feelings of Inferiority with Hope in Adolescents from Low-Income Families

The present study aimed to investigate the structural relationship between expressing emotion, psychological acceptance, feelings of inferiority and hope in adolescents from low-income families. The study was a descriptive correlational study using structural equation analysis. A total of 280 high school students of 12-18 years old from low-income families, supported by the welfare of the relief committee of Zarch, Iran in 2019, were selected via the available sampling method. The measures included hope inventory, acceptance and action questionnaire, feelings of inferiority and expressing emotion in the family scale. The results showed that expressing negative emotions in the family had a significant negative effect on adolescents' psychological acceptance and psychological acceptance had a significant positive effect on hope. Indirect path analyses also indicated that expressing negative emotions in the family by reducing psychological acceptance could have a negative effect on hope in adolescents of low-income families. Moreover, psychological acceptance had an indirect effect on the hope of adolescents from low-income families. Also, psychological acceptance played a significant mediating role in the relationship between expressing emotion in the family and hope. These findings show that if there is appropriate emotional expression in the family, it can lead to psychological acceptance, increase hope, and can reduce feelings of inferiority in adolescents of low-income families.