This study analyzed the relationship of learning flow to self-esteem and stress in elementary school students. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship of learning flow to self-esteem and stress and the explanatory power between sub-v...
This study analyzed the relationship of learning flow to self-esteem and stress in elementary school students. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship of learning flow to self-esteem and stress and the explanatory power between sub-variables. This study is also expected to provide fundamental data and suggestions, which will be useful to find a way of applying learning flow to education and psychology.
For this study, a survey was carried out on 502 fifth and sixth grade elementary school students from 11 elementary schools located around Seoul. Learning flow was measured using the learning flow scale developed by Seok Im bok and Kang Yi Cheol (2007). Self-esteem was measured using the questionnaire of self-esteem that Choi Bo Ga and Jeon Gui Yuen (1993) developed which on based on the studies of Coopersmith (1967), Mcchale and Chaighead(1988). Stress was measured using Kim Young Ju (2008) scale that was reconstructed for the elementary school students from Choi Young Hee (2002) scale which was to measure the stress of adolescents.
The study results were analyzed by using the program i-STATistics (Kim, K. S., & Eva, L. B., 2009). Aiming to grasp the general tendency of learning flow, self-esteem, and stress, it calculated the mean, the standard deviation, and the descriptive statistics. And t-test was conducted in order to investigate the difference of learning flow, self-esteem, and stress depending on sex and age. In addition, Pearson's correlation analysis was used to explain the relationship between learning flow, self-esteem, and stress. In order to examine to what extent learning flow influences self-esteem and stress, Multi Regression Analysis was conducted.
The results of this study can be summarized as follows:
First, there was no significant difference in learning flow, self-esteem, and stress depending sex and age.
Second, positive correlation was observed between learning flow, self-esteem, and sub-variables of self-esteem (general self-esteem, social self-esteem, domestic self-esteem, and school self-esteem). And it was shown that learning flow of elementary school students has a significant influence on all the sub-variables of self-esteem. In particular, the general self-esteem among the sub-variables of self-esteem showed the highest explanatory power. And autotelic experience among sub-variables of learning flow shows the highest correlation and explanatory power with self esteem.
Third, negative correlation was found between learning flow, stress and sub-variables of stress (such as interpersonal relationship, school life, personal problems, domestic life). And it was demonstrated that learning flow of elementary school students has a significant effect on all the sub-variables of stress. Particularly, the school life among the sub-variables of stress showed the highest explanatory power. And autotelic experience among sub-variables of learning flow shows the highest correlation and explanatory power with stress.
Given the results, this study presents some suggestions like below;
First of all, considering learning flow has high relevance to self-esteem and stress, learning flow can serve as an important factor in psychological health by enhancing self-esteem caused by positive emotion and reducing stress caused by negative emotion. Korean people have high demand and expectation to excel in their studies. In this Korean education society, it is very suggestive that, when students feel achievement and pleasure by absorbing themselves into the study itself, they can attain psychological health.
Secondly, the internal reward, which is from the satisfaction gained from learning activities, is a more important factor to the psychological health than the external reward. It is supported by the results that autotelic experience from sub-variables of learning flow is most significantly related to self esteem and stress. The learning procedure needs the external motivation in the beginning to some degree because it requires much attention from the students. However, autotelic direction helps the learners to achieve at the highst level and, thus, it improves self esteem and lessens stress. Therefore, this study implies that the internal motivations are more essential for the learners to experience the joy and the achievement in successful learning.
Considering the results of the study, the counseling program or the educational plan need to be developed to increase the self esteem and decrease the stress during learning flow. In addition, going beyond the tendency to positively reinforce the learners by the external rewards, it requires the development of educational plans for learners' pleasures and achievements in their learning flows.