This study aims to learn macro-level implications for healthy development and adaptation of adolescents by identifying the relation between self-concept, the adolescents’ psychological mechanism, and area/community environment(define as "area" in th...
This study aims to learn macro-level implications for healthy development and adaptation of adolescents by identifying the relation between self-concept, the adolescents’ psychological mechanism, and area/community environment(define as "area" in this study). It also intends to connect the micro-level self-concept and macro-level area by empirically identifying the effect which area environment has on self-concept extremely personal and psychological area. This study has the implication that it calls for a new spotlight on area environment as another channel for welfare intervention by demonstrating the area’s effect, which has so far had full of theoretical discussions but yet remained as void of more concrete and empirical aspects.
Self-concept has an significant meaning in an individual’s life as it is the subject which has long received a lot of attention from various study fields. Self-concept a subjective and objective evaluation or awareness made for oneself, is an important psychological mechanism which interprets experience in the center of all senses and decides actions. This self-concept has more importance especially in adolescence when self-identity and self-concept are established and adolescents go through physical and mental changes and often face in conflict-and-choice situations. Besides, the self-concept in this period affects the adult period; thus, its importance is even more emphasized. That is why a lot of previous studies tried to find out the factors which build positive self-concept.
Among factors affecting self-concept, family factor has been dealt with importance and the parents-children relationship has been in the center of studies. Furthermore, relationships with friends or teachers, school factor, and community factor are considered and it has been reported that one has a different self-identity depending on the interaction with these different factors.
This study focuses on the community environment among various environmental systems which have been examined by previous studies and tries to verify the area factor effect on self-concep. The reasons why the relationship between self-concept and area environment is focused are summarized as below.
First, self-concept is not inherent but is built in the interaction with external environment; thus, possibility of changes is an important attribute of self-concept. Therefore, we need to observe its relationship to social environment with care and, in particular, we should consider the fact that social identity and social categorization, which are developed through residential community in adolescence-when independently expending relationships with external environment-, are essential contexts in psycho-social development.
Second, given the relationship structure implied in individuals and environmental systems, it is only natural to examine the area system. Although parents or family factors are undeniably important environment in building self-concept, its effect also is not in a vacuum condition but is included in the circle of influence of area environment; thus, it should be seen as being indirectly and directly affected by macro- environmental system. Hence, we need to look into the real influence of area environment.
Third, the independent influence which area’s characteristics have on the individuals’ behavior and the quality of life is called ‘community effect(area effect)’. The studies on area effect originated from discovery of discrepancy in juvenile delinquency rates between different communities mainly focus on the relation between negative area factor and negative area effect. Area exist so positive effects resulting from positive factors can also be expected. It is believed a worthwhile to research the relationship between self-concept, as a developmental outcome, and positive area factors by shifting the perspective.
Based on the above mentioned necessities of studies, this study tries to find out if a area has its unique context effect on adolescents’ self-concept even when other adjacent environmental factors are controlled and what kind of factors cause discrepancy between areas.
To do this, a 2-stage, multi-level analysis model is designed and, based on ecological system theory; individuals, adjacent environment and macro environment factor are all taken into account. Korean Youth Panel Data are used and a horizontal, individual adolescent-community, 2-stage, and multi-level model is devised with subjects of 11thgradestudentsnationwide. After that, with the subjects of adolescents in Seoul community only, a 4-year-repetitive measurement of individuals, individual-area longitudinal 3-stage, multi-level developmental model is designed to study the area effect on the ‘changes’ of self-concept of adolescents from 9thgraders to 12thgraders.
The analysis results are as follows. In horizontal 2-staged model, the area effect on the self-concept of national adolescents in the 11thgrade is confirmed to be significant.
Designing a multi-level model in consideration with area environment be sides individuals, family, an adjacent environment factoris proven to be adequate. As to individual factors, gender, academic achievement are turned out to be important influential factors and parents attachment, teacher attachment, friend attachment, and even community attachment are also shown as significant influential factors. Friend attachment, in particular, is confirmed as a powerful factor in building adolescents’ self-concept and what is more striking and interesting is the attachment with local community has a positive effect on self-concept. Among the area factors, the rate of single parent and crime rate are proven to be significant even when all the other individual factors are controlled. The lower the crime rate of the area is, the more positive self-concept the adolescents have; unlike our common anticipation, the higher the single parent rate of the area is, the better self-concept the adolescents have.
In the longitudinal 3-staged, multi-level developmental model, the self-concept of adolescents in Seoul area generally grows as time goes by (from 9thgrade to12thgrade) while the influence of time variable are different by individuals. In other words, age-effect on self-concept is empirically proved. As to variables in individual level, gender and academic achievement show significant effect just like the horizontal 2-staged model. In terms of area variables, the higher the educational background of mother is, the lower the crime rate is, the higher the volunteering participation rate is, and the more the cultural welfare facilities are, the better the self-concept of adolescents in the respective area becomes. The positive effects which resource variables such as volunteering rate or cultural welfare facilities’ rate have on self-concept development have especially significant meanings in terms of social-welfare aspects. On the other hand, the area with higher rate of single parent reveals higher self-concept, which is the same result shown in the horizontal 2-staged model. It is suggested that the vulnerability of area environment and relative comparison psychology about family types act to bring out this result. More further study shall be needed. Cognitive area factor is no less important than the structural factor of area and the variable of attachment with local community is proven to be a powerful influential factor. Areas should make an effort to build a strong attachment within area and enhance care and love for local community.
Lastly, by integrating all of these results, this paper discusses the implications in theory, policy and practice.