Predictors of Life Satisfaction Trajectory Among Adolescents in South Korea

Background/Purpose:
As life satisfaction (LS) is an origin of happiness, it is important to examine the predictors of LS trajectory among adolescents. Because of limitations in available data and analytic methods, however, little is known about what factors are associated with LS trajectory among adolescents in South Korea. Given the limitations, this study aims to (1) estimate the trajectory of LS among adolescents, and (2) to identify the predictors of LS trajectory among South Korean adolescents. We particularly focused on individual ∙ environmental factors, based on ecological system perspective (ESP).

Methods:
Study includes 3,449 adolescents who participated in Korean Youth Panel Survey (KYPS) from 2004 to 2008. The original group in 2004 was consisted of 8th graders. The data was collected using a stratified multi-stage cluster sampling methods. Self-esteem (SE), internalization & externalization (IZ & EZ), academic stress (AS) were used as individual level factors; family structure (FS), parents-child relationship (PCR), peer-relationship (PR), and teacher-relationship (TR) were used as environment level factors. Control variables included adolescent’s gender, income level, and parents’ education level. Latent growth curve modeling (LGCM) was used to identify the trajectory and the predictors of LS trajectory.

Results:
Both unconditional (UCM) and conditional (CM) model fits were acceptable (χ²UCM =135.375(df=10, p=.000), RMSEA=.060, TLI=.944, CFI=.963; χ²CM =289.993(df=50, p=.000), RMSEA=.037, TLI=.924, CFI=.975) and major findings are as follows. First, on average, adolescents presented an increasing LS trajectory during the study period. Second, students with higher levels of SE and lower levels of AS presented higher levels of initial LS in 2004, but as time passed, the gaps of LS due to SE and AS tended to be gradually decreased. Those with higher levels of IZ presented lower levels of initial LS, and the initial gaps did not change over the study period. Those with higher levels of PCR presented higher levels of initial LS, but the LS gap due to PCR tented to be gradually decreased. Those with higher levels of PR and TR presented higher levels of initial LS, and the initial gaps were maintained over the study period.

Conclusions and Implications:
Study results indicate that (1) South Korean adolescents tend to increase LS regardless of their stresses due to study burdens and (2) various individuals and environmental factors (e.g., SE, AS, IZ, PCR, PR, TR) are associated with the trajectory of LS among adolescents in South Korea. These findings suggest that social work interventions targeting to enhance adolescents’ LS should consider the contexts of ESP. SE, IZ, and AS as potential target areas of effective interventions. Based on the findings, possible intervention strategies for interventions and directions for future studies will be discussed.