Possible selves among adolescents in Hong Kong

Abstract

Adolescence is a stage full of possibility, in which adolescents start exploring what is possible for them. Possible selves represent people’s self-concept pointing to the future, what they hope to be, what they expect to be and what they fear to be. These future oriented selves are closely related with adolescents’ behaviors, channeling their effort toward positive behavioral outcomes. The possible selves in Chinese context are less examined and adolescents in Hong Kong are facing a lot of challenges and uncertainties in the fast changing society. What are the possible selves among Hong Kong adolescents? How are parental influences associated with possible selves in the Chinese context? How proximal psychological associates, such as planfulness and self-esteem, relate with possible selves among adolescents?

The current study was designed to answer the above questions. There were two phases in the research. Phase one adapted Possible Selves Questionnaire into Chinese (PSQ_C) with a translation and back-translation procedure and two pilot tests. Phase two conducted a large sample survey with secondary school adolescents. 3,078 participants, aged 12-20, were from 99 classes in 11 middle schools. The findings were presented with three themed papers.

Research findings were presented in three journal papers with different foci. Paper one investigated the profile of possible selves among Chinese adolescents in Hong Kong, including the content of possible selves, strategies of possible selves and perceived likelihood of possible selves. Gender and age differences were examined.

Paper two examined the effect of parental support on possible selves. It was found that parental pragmatic support consistently predicted having at least one strategy and perceived likelihood of hoped-for and feared possible selves, while socio-emotional support was only associated with perceived likelihood of hoped-for possible selves.

Paper three examined planfulness and self-esteem as proximal psychological antecedents of possible selves. It was found that both planfulness and self-esteem were positively associated with having at least one strategy and perceived likelihood of hoped-for and feared possible selves. Self-esteem was more related to perceived likelihood whereas planfulness was more related with having strategy. It was found that planfulness and self-esteem mediated the relationship between parental support and possible selves.

The current doctoral study complemented the existing literature in terms of theory by exploring the external and proximal psychological antecedents of possible selves and establishing a mediation model to explain the interplay among parental support, planfulness, self-esteem and possible selves. It was the first possible selves study among Hong Kong adolescents. It not only contributed to the indigenous research on adolescents by providing a handy Chinese possible selves questionnaire, enriching the understanding about modern adolescents, but also by providing information for further setup of intervention using possible selves constructs. The limitations were discussed, along with directions for future studies, contributions and implications in terms of theory, research and intervention.