Unveiling Hidden Adaptation Patterns: A Latent Profile Analysis of Psychosocial Adaptation Among Multicultural Adolescents in South Korea

Background: With the increasing diversity of South Korean society, understanding the psychosocial adaptation of multicultural adolescents has emerged as a critical issue in social work research and practice. Prior studies have often treated multicultural adolescents as a uniform group or employed variable-centered approaches that overlook within-group heterogeneity, particularly in emotional well-being and social support. This study addresses these limitations by employing a person-centered approach to classify subtypes of psychosocial adaptation among multicultural adolescents and to examine how individual and ecological factors influence group membership. Ultimately, the goal is to provide an empirical foundation for stratified and tailored social welfare interventions.

Methods: Data were drawn from the 2023 Multicultural Adolescents Panel Study (MAPS Phase 2, Wave 5, N = 1,842), a nationally representative dataset in South Korea. Latent Profile Analysis (LPA) was conducted using four indicators—depression, self-esteem, peer support, and teacher support. A three-profile model was selected based on model fit indices (AIC, BIC, SABIC), group proportions, and classification accuracy (Entropy = 0.955). Subsequently, multinomial logistic regression using a manual three-step approach examined the effects of gender, region size, discrimination experience, level of parental support, and the presence or absence of supportive adults in school and in the community on subtype membership.

Results: Three distinct psychosocial adaptation subtypes emerged:

1. High-Risk Group (6.5%): Characterized by high depression, low self-esteem, and low levels of peer and teacher support.
2. Middle Group (63.2%): Exhibiting moderate levels across all indicators.
3. Protected Group (30.3%): Demonstrating low depression, high self-esteem, and high levels of peer and teacher support.

Experiencing discrimination significantly increased the likelihood of belonging to both the High-Risk group (β = 1.501, p < .001) and the Middle group (β = 0.384, p < .001) compared to the Protected group. In contrast, the presence of a supportive adult in school significantly reduced the probability of membership in the High-Risk group (β = –1.646, p < .001) and the Middle group (β = –0.799, p < .01). Moreover, higher levels of parental support (β = –0.347, p < .05) and the presence of a supportive adult in the community (β = –0.269, p < .05) significantly increased the likelihood of being in the Protected group. Gender differences were notable: male adolescents were significantly less likely to belong to the High-Risk (β = –2.224, p < .001) and Middle groups (β = –1.380, p < .001), suggesting that female adolescents may experience relatively greater psychosocial difficulties.

Implications: This study demonstrates that multicultural adolescents form heterogeneous subgroups with distinct psychosocial adaptation pathways and intervention needs. Discrimination was identified as a major risk factor, while the presence of supportive adults in school served as a strong protective factor. Policy implications include anti-discrimination education, stronger family and community support systems, and gender-sensitive programs. High-risk adolescents require resilience-focused interventions and in-school support, while those in the middle group may benefit from preventive, community-based services. This person-centered study provides a practical foundation for stratified and tailored social work interventions that meet adolescents’ diverse needs.