Investigating the Quality of Family Relationships and Goal Attainment: Analyzing the Mediating Role of Psychological Distress

Abstract

Objective Late adolescence and young adulthood are crucial periods when individuals rely on family support to navigate challenges like identity formation and career decisions. Supportive families aid in coping during this transition. This study examines the links between family quality of life (FQoL), goal attainment, and psychological distress in the Pakistani cultural context.Methods Of the 300 students in this cross-sectional study, 52.0% were men, and 48.0% were women. The study employed the Beach Centre Family Quality of Life Scale to assess students’ well-being within a familial context, the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale-21 to measure psychological distress, and the Goal Achievement Questionnaire (goal achievement mastery [GA-M] and goal achievement performance [GA-P]) to evaluate goal orientation.Results GA-M was negatively associated with depression, stress, family interaction, and parenting but positively linked to anxiety. Conversely, GA-P was positively associated with psychological distress. Women students scored higher on GA-P (t(298)=-3.41, p<0.001). In contrast, men scored higher on Physical/Material Well-being (t(298)=2.35, p<0.01). Additionally, FQoL positively predicted GA-P via depression and stress but negatively predicted GA-M via depression and stress.Conclusion FQoL is closely linked to students’ GA-M and GA-P, with depression and stress as indirect mediators. These findings underscore the critical role of familial support in shaping goal achievement.