Human Ecology Research

The Korean Home Economics Association (대한가정학회)
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The Causal Relationship of Early Adolescents' Personal Variables and Social Support on Self-Esteem According to Grade

초기 청소년의 학년에 따른 개인적 변인, 사회적 지지와 자아존중감 간의 인과적 관련성

  • Kim, Kyong Yeon (Department of Child Development & Family Studies, Pusan National University) ;
  • Kim, Na Hyeon (Department of Child Development & Family Studies, Pusan National University)
  • 김경연 (부산대학교 아동가족학과) ;
  • 김나현 (부산대학교 아동가족학과)
  • Received : 2013.09.11
  • Accepted : 2014.04.07
  • Published : 2014.10.30
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Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the causal relationship of early adolescents' personal variables and social support on their self-esteem by grade. Information on 226 6th graders from elementary schools and 226 1st year students from middle schools in Busan was collected. Early adolescents' prosocial behavior, academic achievement, social support, and self-esteem were assessed using their self-reports. For the data analysis, Cronbach's ${\alpha}$, t -test, Pearson's correlation coefficient, and multiple regression were used. The collected data were analyzed by the SPSS ver. 21.0 program for Windows. The major findings were as follows: first, early adolescents' prosocial behavior, academic achievement, social support demonstrated a significant difference between grades. Second, peers' social support was the most powerful determinant of self-esteem in both the 6th graders from elementary schools and the 1st year middle school students. Third, prosocial behavior had the greatest total effect on self-esteem in the case of both groups of students. The middle schoolers' academic achievement had no causal effect on their self-esteem. The findings from this study indicate that early adolescents' personal variables and social support are important elements that affect their self-esteem differently depending on their grade. Further, the findings of this study can be used as fundamental data to develop a teaching plan and provide counseling for early adolescents in order to increase their self-esteem.

Keywords

References

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