Gender as mediator in the relationships between national belongingness, family cohesion adaptation, and mental resilience

Abstract EN

This study aimed to investigate the relationships be- tween national belongingness and family cohesion and adaptation and mental resilience, and to test a moderat- ing effect of gender.

Participants were invited via Email, Facebook and WhatsApp to participate in the study.

The cross-sectional sample in the study was made up of 1,716 participants (63.7% females), with a mean age of 29.2 years (SD=10.33 years).

The questionnaire in- cluded three main scales: the Mental Flexibility Inventory scale, the Family Adaptation and Cohesion scale, and the National Belongingness scale – as well as the de- mographics.

Independent t-tests were computed to ex- amine gender differences.

Path analyses were used to determine the associations between the variables and to test the moderation of gender.

Results showed that fe- males had greater mental resilience and family cohesion than males, and males reported greater family adapta- tion than females.

In terms of associations, a sense of national belongingness was positively related to mental resilience, family cohesion predicted better resilience, and a moderating effect of gender was observed.

The study recommended that interventions to increase family cohesion and adaptation, national belongingness, and mental resilience in people should be gender directed.