Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Korean Adolescents’ Life Satisfaction Cohort Differences Caused by Mental Health Intervention and Social Disaster Accident

  • Published:
Child Indicators Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This study examined life satisfaction trajectories over time in the seventh, ninth, and tenth grade periods, and analyzed whether there were any differences in association of the trajectories and their predictors between the two cohort groups that are three years apart. For these purposes, we used the latent growth curve modeling and the multi-group analysis involving 2092 students (fourth grade cohort) and 2350 students (seventh grade cohort) who participated in the Korean Children and Youth Panel Survey. Major findings are as follows. The trajectories of life satisfaction were varied by the cohort; this is known as the cohort effect. Specifically, the difference in the generation of adolescent’s life satisfaction has become better in recent generation. However, the difference in life satisfaction between the two cohorts decreased over time. This cohort effect seems to be caused by the social environment changes such as Korea’s active intervention system (Children Problem-Behavior Screening Questionare) in mental health problems or the Sewol Ferry Disaster accident in 2014 in Korea. Based on such findings, implications for adolescents are discussed.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Bae, H. N., Choi, S. W., Yu, J. C., Lee, J. S., & Choi, K. S. (2014). Reliability and validity of the Korean version of the Rosenberg self-esteem scale (K-RSES) in adult. Mood and Emotion, 12, 43–49 Retrieved from http://www.riss.kr.libproxy.hannam.ac.kr/link?id=A104756307.

    Google Scholar 

  • Browne, M. W., & Cudeck, R. (1993). Alternative ways of assessing model fit. In K. A. Bollen & J. S. Long (Eds.), Testing structural equation models (pp. 136–162). Newbury Park, CA: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Carlson, S. M., Shoda, Y., Ayduk, O., Aber, L., Schaefer, C., Sethi, A., Wilson, N., Peake, P. K., & Mischel, W. (2018). Cohort effects in children’s delay of gratification. Developmental Psychology, 54(8), 1395–1407.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chung, I. J., Cho, Y., & Oh, E. (2018). Exploring dream-related predictors of the happiness by poverty and non-poverty youth group: Applying decision tree analysis. Journal of School Social work, 42, 209–236.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Curran, P. J., Harford, T. C., & Muthen, B. O. (1996). The relation between heavy alcohol use and bar patronage: A latent growth model. Journal of Studies on Alcohol, 57(4), 410–418. https://doi.org/10.15288/jsa.1996.57.410.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • da Silva, C. H. M., da Silva, T. E., Morales, N. M., Fernandes, K. P., & Pinto, R. M. C. (2009). Quality of life in children and adolescents with allergic rhinitis. Brazilian Journal of Otorhinolaryngology, 75(5), 642–649.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Diener, E., & Emmons, R. A. (1984). The independence of positive and negative affect. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 47, 1105–1117.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Diener, E., Sandvik, E., & Pavot, W. (2009). Happiness is the frequency, not the intensity, of positive versus negative affect. Assessing Well-Being, 39, 213–231.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Eschenbeck, H., Schmid, S., Schröder, I., Wasserfall, N., & Kohlmann, C. W. (2018). Development of coping strategies from childhood to adolescence cross-sectional and longitudinal trends. European Journal of Health Psychology, 25(1), 18–30.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ferguson, C. J., Munoz, M. E., Garza, A., & Monica, G. (2014). Concurrent and prospective analysis of peer, television and social media influences on body dissatisfaction, eating disorder symptoms and life satisfaction in adolescent girls. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 43(1), 1–14.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Forste, R., & Moore, E. (2012). Adolescent obesity and life satisfaction: Perceptions of self, peers, family, and school. Economics & Human Biology, 10(4), 385–394.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hair, J. F., Anderson, R. E., Tatham, R. L., & Black, W. C. (2009). Multivariate data analysis. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hu, L. T., & Bentler, P. (1999). Cutoff criteria for fit indexes in covariance structure analysis: Conventional criteria versus new alternatives. Structural Education Modeling, 6(1), 1–55. https://doi.org/10.1080/10705519909540118.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Huh, M. Y. (2000). The study for the development and validation of ‘parenting behavior inventory’ perceived by adolescent. Ewha Womans University, Seoul: Doctoral dissertation Retrieved from http://www.riss.kr/link?id=T10397901.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jeong, Y., Bong, C., & Hong, S. (2018). Analyzing change trajectory and determinants of life satisfaction of adolescents: An application of latent growth modeling. Korean Journal of Youth Studies, 25(1), 181–210.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jon, B. J. (1974). Self-esteem: A test of its measurability. Yonsei Journal. 11. 107-130. Retrieved from http://www.riss.kr/link?id=A3215438.

  • Jun, M. K., & Jang, J. S. (2009). A longitudinal study of the development of happiness during childhood. Journal of the Korean Home Economics Association, 47(3), 103–118 Retrieved from http://www.riss.kr/link?id=A82400172.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kadir, N. B. A., Mustapha, Z., Abdul Mutalib, M. H., & Rahim, S. A. (2014). Internal assets as predictors for positive emotions among at-risk youth in Malaysia. Asia Pacific Journal of Social Work and Development, 24, 143–157.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kashdan, T. B., Biswas-Diener, R., & King, L. A. (2008). Reconsidering happiness: The costs of distinguishing between hedonics and eudaimonia. The Journal of Positive Psychology, 3(4), 219–233.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Keyes, C. L. M. (2002). The mental health continuum: From languishing to flourishing in life. Journal of Health and Social Behavior, 43, 207–222. https://doi.org/10.2307/3090197.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Keyes, C. L. M. (2006). Mental health in adolescence: Is America’s youth flourishing? American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 76(3), 395–402.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Keyes, C. L. M. (2007). Promoting and protecting mental health as flourishing: A complementary strategy for improving national mental health. American Psychologist, 62(2), 95–108. https://doi.org/10.1037/0003-066X.62.2.95.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Keyes, K. M., Nicholson, R., Kinley, J., Raposo, S., Stein, M. B., Goldner, E. M., & Sareen, J. (2014). Age, period, and cohort effects in psychological distress in the United States and Canada. American Journal of Epidemiology, 179(10), 1216–1227.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kim, S., Lim, J., Kim, S., Park, S., Yu, S., Choi, J., & Lee, G. (2006). Korea youth development index survey. Seoul: Korea National Youth Policy Institute Retrieved from http://www.riss.kr/link?id=M10767007.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kim, S., Ahn, J., & Lee, B. J. (2019). Why do children become unhappier as they get older? Comparing key dimensions of Children’s subjective well-being between 8- and 12-year-old groups in South Korea. Child Indicators Research., 12, 9–27.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Krings, F., Bangerter, A., Gomez, V., & Grob, A. (2008). Cohort differences in personal goals and life satisfaction in young adulthood: Evidence for historical shifts in developmental tasks. Journal of Adult Development, 15(2), 93–105.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lee, J. Y., Nam, S. K., Lee, M. K., Lee, J. H., & Lee, S. M. (2009). Rosenberg self-esteem scale: Analysis of item-level validity. The Korean Journal of Counseling and Psychotherapy, 21(1), 173–189 Retrieved from http://www.riss.kr.libproxy.hannam.ac.kr/link?id=A100630542.

    Google Scholar 

  • Min, B. S. (1991). The effect of school adaptation and self-concept on academic achievement. Hongik University, Seoul: Master’s thesis Retrieved from http://www.riss.kr.access.ewha.ac.kr/link?id=T2167733.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ministry of Education, Science and Technology. (2012). Children problem-behavior screening Questionare manual. Seoul: Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, Student Health and Safety Department https://www.moe.go.kr/newsearch/searchTst.jsp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Myers, M. B., Calantone, R. J., Page, T. J., & Taylor, C. R. (2000). An application of multiple-group causal models in assessing cross-cultural measurement equivalence. Journal of International Marketing, 8(4), 108–121. https://doi.org/10.1509/jimk.8.4.108.19790.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Park, H. (2015). Effect of sleep duration on suicidal ideation in Korean adolescents. The Journal of the Korean Society of School Health, 28(1), 1–9.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rosenberg, M. (1965). Society and the adolescent self-image. Princeton: Princeton University Press.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Ryan, R. M., & Huta, V. (2009). Wellness as healthy functioning or wellness as happiness: The importance of eudaimonic thinking (response to the Kashdan et al. and waterman discussion). The Journal of Positive Psychology, 4(3), 202–204.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Salmela-Aro, K., & Tuominen-Soini, H. (2010). Adolescents’ life satisfaction during the transition to post-comprehensive education: Antecedents and consequences. Journal of Happiness Studies, 11, 683–701.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shin, J., Kim, J. K., & Lim, N. (2017). Sleep quality and happiness among young adults: The role of positive memory bias. Korean Journal of Culture and Social Issue, 23(2), 271–293.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sohn, S. H. (2014). Study of indirect trauma and related variables by social traumatic event to the adolescence: Focusing on the Sewol ferry disaster. Korean Journal of Youth Studies, 21(10), 269–294 Retrieved from http://www.riss.kr/link?id=A102950847.

    Google Scholar 

  • Statistics Korea. (2019). 2018 Statistics on the youth. Retrieved from http://kostat.go.kr.

  • Suldo, S. M., & Huebner, E. S. (2004). The role of life satisfaction in the relationship between authoritative parenting dimensions and adolescent problem behavior. Social Indicators Research, 66, 165–195.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Suldo, S. M., Thalji, A., & Ferron, J. (2011). Longitudinal academic outcomes predicted by early adolescents’ subjective well-being, psychopathology, and mental health status yielded from a dual factor model. The Journal of Positive Psychology, 6(1), 17–30.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Suldo, S. M., Minch, D. R., & Hearon, B. V. (2015). Adolescent life satisfaction and personality characteristics: Investigating relationships using a five factor model. Journal of Happiness Studies, 16(4), 965–983.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Varela, J. J., Zimmerman, M. A., Ryan, A. M., Stoddard, S. A., Heinze, J. E., & Alfaro, J. (2018). Life satisfaction, school satisfaction, and school violence: A mediation analysis for Chilean adolescent victims and perpetrators. Child Indicators Research, 11(2), 487–505.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • World Health Organization (2016). Mental health: Strengthening our response (Fact Sheet). Retrieved from http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs220/en/

  • Yang, C. K., Kim, J. K., Patel, S. R., & Lee, J. H. (2005). Agerelated changes in sleep/wake patterns among Korean teenagers. Pediatrics, 115(1), 250–256.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yeo, K. H., & Park, M. J. (2014). A study on the local policy of Seoul City for social properties of baby-boomer and Echo-generation. National Association of Korean Local Government, 16(2), 31–55 Retrieved from http://www.riss.kr/link?id=A100100601.

    Google Scholar 

  • Yoo, C. (2019). Stress coping and mental health among adolescents: Applying a multidimensional stress coping model. Children and Youth Services Review., 99, 43–53.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yoo, C., Kahng, S. K., & Kim, H. M. (2017). The trajectory of life satisfaction and its associated factors among adolescents in South Korea. Asia Pacific Journal of Social Work and Development., 27(1), 1–12.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Funding

This work was supported by the Ministry of Education of the Republic of Korea and the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF-2018S1A5B5A01028326).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Social Welfare, Hannam University, 70, Hannam-ro, Daedeok-gu, Daejeon, Republic of Korea

    Changmin Yoo

Authors
  1. Changmin Yoo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Changmin Yoo.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of Interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Ethical Approval

All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

Institutional Approval

This study was approved by the Institutional Review Board of Author’s University (IRB Exemption No.: 163–3).

Additional information

Publisher’s Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Yoo, C. Korean Adolescents’ Life Satisfaction Cohort Differences Caused by Mental Health Intervention and Social Disaster Accident. Child Ind Res 13, 1875–1892 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12187-020-09727-7

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12187-020-09727-7

Keywords

Search

Navigation