Family functioning and problematic behavior among secondary vocational school students: The mediating role of hope and the moderating role of perceived social support

This study explored the effect of family functioning on secondary vocation students' problematic behavior, and the mediating role of hope and the moderating role of perceived social support (PSS). A total of 1036 secondary vocation students (15.56 ± 1.14 years old) participated in the current research by completing measures of family functioning, problematic behavior, hope and PSS. The results showed family functioning of secondary vocational students could not only directly predict their problematic behavior, but also through the partially mediating effect of hope. Furthermore, PSS moderated the relationship between family functioning and hope. The results indicated effect of family functioning on hope reached significant both in high and low levels of PSS. In sum, the present study provided an alternative interpretation regarding the effect of family functioning on secondary vocational students' problematic behavior by establishing a moderated mediation model. This study also had practical significance in promoting intervention of problematic behaviors among secondary vocation students.