Browse > Article
http://dx.doi.org/10.6115/fer.2014.034

The Effects of Children's Self-Esteem on Their School Adjustment: Focusing on the Mediation of Peer Attachment  

Kwon, Hye Jin (Department of Child Studies, Nazarene University)
Sung, Mi Young (Department of Child Studies, Seokyeong University)
Publication Information
Human Ecology Research / v.52, no.4, 2014 , pp. 395-403 More about this Journal
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to analyze the effects of children's self-esteem on their school adjustment, focusing on the mediation of peer attachment. A total of 2,200 3rd grade children from the third Korea Child-Adolescent Panel Survey participated in this study. The instruments used in this study were the Self-esteem Scale, Peer Attachment Scale, and School Adjustment Scale. The collected data were analyzed by using a Student's t -test, Pearson's partial correlation, simple regression, and hierarchical multiple regression with SPSS ver. 16.0 software. The main results of this study are as follows: first, the boys had higher self-esteem, peer attachment, and school adjustment scores than the girls. Second, there was a significant positive correlation between children's self-esteem and peer attachment as well as a significant positive correlation between children's self-esteem and school adjustment. Further, there was a significant positive correlation between children's peer attachment and school adjustment. Finally, children's self-esteem exerted positive effects on their peer attachment, and children's peer attachment had a positive influence on their school adjustment. The effect of children's self-esteem on their school adjustment was partially mediated by their peer attachment. These findings provide preliminary evidence that the relationships between children's self-esteem and school adjustment may be mediated by their peer attachment.
Keywords
school adjustment; self-esteem; peer attachment;
Citations & Related Records
Times Cited By KSCI : 3  (Citation Analysis)
연도 인용수 순위
1 Wilkinson, R. B. (2004). The role of parental and peer attachment in the psychological health and self-esteem of adolescents. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 33(6), 479-493. http://dx.doi.org/10.1023/B:JOYO.0000048063.59425.20   DOI   ScienceOn
2 Yoo, Y. G., & Lee, I. S. (2013). The effects of school-based Maum Meditation Program on the self-esteem and school adjustment in primary school students. Global Journal of Health Science, 5(4), 14-27. http://dx.doi.org/10.5539/gjhs.v5n4p14
3 Park, S. H., & Yoon, C. H. (2013). The effects of personal and family variables on the school adjustment of 6th and 9th grade Korean students. Studies on Korean Youth, 24(3), 147-169.
4 Pears, K. C., Kim, H. K., Capaldi, D., Kerr, D. C., & Fisher, P. A. (2013). Father-child transmission of school adjustment: A prospective intergenerational study. Developmental Psychology, 49(4), 792-803. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/a0028543   DOI
5 Ruble, D. N., & Frey, K. S. (1991). Changing forms and functions in the development of the social comparison of abilities. In J. M. Suls & T. A. Wills(Eds.), Social Comparison: Contemporary Theory and Research(pp. 79-116). Hillsdale, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.
6 Shin, M., Jeon, S. H., & Yoo, M. S. (2012). Analysis of the structural relationship between social relationships, self-esteem, life satisfaction, and school adjustment in early adolescents. Koran Journal of Child Studies, 33(1), 81-92.   과학기술학회마을   DOI   ScienceOn
7 Swann, W. B. Jr., Chang-Schneider, C., & Larsen McClarty, K. (2007). Do people's self-views matter? Self-concept and self-esteem in everyday life. American Psychologist, 62(2), 84-94. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/0003-066X.62.2.84   DOI   ScienceOn
8 Uhrlass, D. J., Grossett, S. E., & Gibb, B. E. (2008). Self-perceived competence, relational victimization, and children's depressive symptoms: Evidence for a sex-specific vulnerability-stress model. International Journal of Cognitive Therapy, 1(4), 284-297. http://dx.doi.org/10.1521/ijct.2008.1.4.284   DOI   ScienceOn
9 Weiten, W., Dunn, D., & Hammer, E. Y. (2012). Psychology Applied to Modern Life: Adjustments in the 21st Century(10th ed.). Belmont, CA: Wadsworth/Cengage Learning.
10 Wentzel, K. R., Barry, C. M., & Caldwell, K. A. (2004). Friendships in middle school: Influences on motivation and school adjustment. Journal of Educational Psychology, 96(2), 195-203. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/0022-0663.96.2.195   DOI   ScienceOn
11 Kwak, S. R. (2006). A structural equation modeling snalysis of adolescents' school adjustment. Korean Journal of Sociology of Education, 16(1), 1-26.
12 Ladd, G. W., Kochenderfer, B. J., & Coleman, C. C. (1996). Friendship quality as a predictor of young children's early school adjustment. Child Development, 67(3), 1103-1118.   DOI   ScienceOn
13 Lee, H. E., & Moon, S. B. (2011). A structural analysis on school-aged children's school adjustment and its related variables. Journal of Korean Home Management Association, 29(4), 161-174.   과학기술학회마을
14 Lee, J. S. (2004). An analysis on the reading and writing basic achievement of elementary school 3th grade students. Journal of Reading Research, 11, 301-326.
15 Lee, J. S., Moon, Y. K., & Choi, H. I. (2012). Impact of perceived parental behavior on school adjustment in children: The mediating effect of children's ego-resilience. The Journal of Child Education, 21(2), 233-246.
16 Lee, K. N. (2008). The ecological variables on children's school adjustment. Journal of Korean Home Management Association, 26(5), 211-224.   과학기술학회마을
17 Lim, S. K., & Lee, H. S. (2007). The effects of self-esteem, relationships with parents and peer relationships on adolescents' school adjustment. Journal of Korean Home Economics Education Association, 19(3), 169-183.   과학기술학회마을
18 Min, B. S. (1991). Effect of school adjustment and self concept on school achievement(Unpublished master's thesis). Hongik University, Seoul, Korea.
19 Damon, W., & Hart, D. (1988). Self Understanding in Childhood and Adolescence. Cambridge, England: Cambridge University Press.
20 Mota, C. P., & Matos, P. M. (2013). Peer attachment, coping, and selfesteem in institutionalized adolescents: The mediating role of social skills. European Journal of Psychology of Education, 28(1), 87-100. http//dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10212-012-0103-z   DOI
21 Gorrese, A., & Ruggieri, R. (2012). Peer attachment: A meta-analytic review of gender and age differences and associations with parent attachment. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 41(5), 650-672. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10964-012-9759-6   DOI
22 Harter, S. (1999). The Construction of the Self: A Developmental Perspective. New York, NY: Guilford Press.
23 Jang, H. S. (1998). The mediating roles of self-image and self-esteem in relations between attachment and hope. The Korean Journal of the Human Development, 5(1), 117-137.
24 Keum, J. H. (2012). The casual relationship between school adjustment, career maturity, socio-economic status and parents attachment of elementary school students. Studies on Korean Youth, 23(3), 5-26.
25 Kim, S. H. (2010). The determinants of general self-esteem in adolescents: The influences of self-perceived competence and social supports. The Korean Journal of the Human Development, 17(4), 1-18.
26 Kim, S. Y., & Hong, S. J. (2009). Investigating the effect of students' background characteristics on the basic academic skill test for the 3rd grade students. The Journal of Elementary Education, 22(2), 233-256.
27 Kingery, J. N., Erdley, C. A., & Marshall, K. C. (2011). Peer acceptance and friendship as predictors of early adolescents' adjustment across the middle school transition. Merrill-Palmer Quarterly, 57(3), 215-243.   DOI
28 Armsden, G. C., & Greenberg, M. T. (1987). The inventory of parent and peer attachment: Individual differences and their relationship to psychological well-being in adolescence. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 16(5), 427-454. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF02202939   DOI   ScienceOn
29 Knight, R. (1981). Parents' beliefs about cognitive development: The role of experience. In A. R. Nesdale, C. Pratt, R. Grieve, J. Field, D. Illingworth, & J. Hogben(Eds.), Advances in Child Development: Theory and Research(pp. 226-229). Nedlands, Australia: University of Western Australia Press.
30 Korean Educational Psychology Association. (2000). Educational Psychology Encyclopedia. Seoul: Hakjisa.
31 Bagwell, G. L., Newcomb, A. F., & Bukowski, W. M. (1998). Preadolescent friendship and peer rejection as predictors of adult adjustment. Child Development, 69(1), 140-153.   DOI   ScienceOn
32 Baron, R. M., & Kenny, D. A. (1986). The moderator-mediator variable distinction in social psychological research: Conceptual, strategic, and statistical considerations. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 51(6), 1173-1182.   DOI
33 Choi, M. K., & Doh, H. S. (2000). Influences of victimization by peers on the self-esteem of adolescents: The role of attachment and friendship. Koran Journal of Child Studies, 21(3), 85-105.
34 Rosenberg, M. (1965). Society and the Adolescent Self-image. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press.
35 Chung, O. B. (2006). Social and Emotional Development. Seoul: Hakjisa.
36 Chung, T. S. (2011). A study on the relationships between the school adaptability of students in the educational welfare policy and the related variables(Unpublished doctoral dissertation). Korean National University of Education, Cheongwon, Korea.
37 Colvin, C. R., Block, J., & Funder, D. C. (1995). Overly positive selfevaluations and personality: Negative implications for mental health. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 68(6), 1152-1162. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.68.6.1152   DOI   ScienceOn