Direct and indirect relations between family support, family meals, family and life satisfaction in workers

Abstract

Introduction: For workers, family is an important source of psychological resources that contribute to the individual’s well-being. It is hypothesized that family support is a protective factor of the person’s life satisfaction, directly and through other variables such as family meals and satisfaction with family life. In this regard, the aim of this study was to examine the serial mediating role of the atmosphere of family meals and satisfaction with family life in the relationship between family support and satisfaction with life, in women and men with paid jobs. Method: The Satisfaction with Life Scale, the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (family subscale), a measure of Atmosphere Scale of Family Meals and the Satisfaction with Family Life Scale were administered to a sample of 236 women and 236 men with paid jobs in Temuco, Chile. The statistical analysis considered a serial mediation model with a 95% Confidence Interval. Results: Family support and satisfaction with life significantly correlated with one another. In addition, a significant indirect effect of the atmosphere of family meals and satisfaction with family life was obtained in the relationship between family support and life satisfaction. The atmosphere of family meals and satisfaction with family life are serial mediators in the relationship between family support and life satisfaction in this group of workers. Conclusions: Results suggest that variables related to the family domain and to social aspects of food consumption have a positive impact in workers’ life satisfaction.