This study was aimed at constructing the structural model explaining adolescents' alienation, depression, and suicidal thoughts through examining psychosocial factors affecting those variables. A hypothetical model was developed from the socioecologic...
This study was aimed at constructing the structural model explaining adolescents' alienation, depression, and suicidal thoughts through examining psychosocial factors affecting those variables. A hypothetical model was developed from the socioecological standpoint based on preceding research and literature review. Exogenous variables include parenting type, school attachment, academic performance, peer relationship, and self-control. Endogenous variables include alienation, depression, and suicidal thoughts.
Final study sample consisted of 201 male students and 206 female students surveyed randomly from high schools in K city. Data for hypothetical model testing were collected through questionnaires from Dec.12 to Dec.22, 2001. Research tool was used after having conducted reliability and validity testing. Before final items were selected and used, items impeding single dimension of each research tool had been deleted through a confirmatory factor analysis.
The data was analysed using SAS program for descriptive statistics and correlational analysis, and conducted covariance structural analysis using LISREL 8.30 program to test the hypothetical model.
The results are as follows:
1. Results of model fitness analysis
Results of model fitness showed that the hypothetical model generally fit into empirical data(χ²= 270.65, df = 116, χ²/df = 2.33, RMSR = 0.04, GFI = 0.94, AGFI = 0.90, NFI = 0.90, NNFI = 0.91). To confirm the validity, the hypothetical model was compared a degree of fitness among 3 competing models of a partial non-mediation model, a complete non-mediation model and a complete mediation model. So, it was concluded that the hypothetical model greatly fit into empirical data.
2. Results of hypothetical testing
Results of hypothetical model testing showed that selected variables in this study account for 53% of alienation, 51% of depression, and 42% of suicidal thoughts. Also, 8 of 21 hypotheses were supported.
Relationships among variables through direct effect are as follows:
1) Alienation
Low school attachment(γ=-.45, p<.01), bad peer relationship(γ=-.21, p<.01), poor academic performance(γ=-.21, p<.01), demanding(γ=.21, p<.01) and responsive parenting type(γ=-.14, p<.05) led to a high degree of feelings of alienation. However, self-control did not significantly effect on alienation.
2) Depression
It turned out that higher alienation led to higher depression(β=.71, p<.01). However, Variables such as parenting type, school attachment, academic performance, peer relationship, and self-control did not have direct effect on depression.