Materialism and the Family Structure-Stress Relation

In this study, we examined the role that materialism plays in the family structure-stress relation in a sample of adolescents. Materialism is a complex construct that appears to both mediate and moderate the family structure-stress relation as well as have both positive and negative effects. The happiness dimension of materialism in particular appears to both mediate and moderate the family structure-stress relation. Adolescents who associate happiness with material possessions report higher levels of family stress due to family disruption (parental divorce) compared with those who are less likely to associate happiness with material possessions. This finding runs contrary to recent marketing research. Additionally, we found the success dimension of materialism to have a direct and salubrious impact on family stress levels.