Abstract
BACKGROUND: We aimed to look into the associations between family interaction patterns, achievement goals, and self-esteem among college students, to provide references for promoting university-family interactions and jointly safeguarding college students' mental health. METHODS: Overall, 492 college students from Qiqihar Medical University, Heilongjiang Province, China were randomly selected as participants. The Family Assessment Device (FAD), Achievement Goals Scale (AGS), and Self-Esteem Inventory (SEI) were used to conduct assessments. RESULTS: Performance avoidance goals were directly linked to family dysfunction (r= 0.358) and inversely linked to self-esteem (r=-0.438). Mastery goals were inversely linked to family dysfunction (r=-0.34) and directly linked to self-esteem (r=0.304). Family dysfunction and self-esteem were negatively correlated (r=-0.465). Family dysfunction significantly indicated performance avoidance goals (β = 0.358, P<0.01) and mastery goals (β = -0.340, P<0.01). Mediation analysis revealed self-esteem served as a partial intermediary in the relationships between family dysfunction and performance avoidance goals, in addition to family dysfunction and mastery goals, with the mediating effects accounting for 45% and 25.6% of the total effects, respectively. CONCLUSION: Self-esteem partially mediates the influence of family functioning on college students' achievement goals.