Longitudinal Mediating Effect of Self-esteem in the Bidirectional Relationship between School Life Adaptation and Life Satisfaction of Multicultural Children

Abstract

Objectives: This study sought to verify bidirectionality by examining a bidirectional relationship of school life adaptation and life satisfaction with self-esteem as a mediating variable over time.Methods: Based on data from 2,245 elementary school students extracted from Year 1 (2019), Year 2 (2020), and Year 3 (2021) of the Multicultural Youth Panel Survey (MAPS 2nd), this adopted structural equation modeling method using the autoregressive cross-lagged modeling.Results: The study derived the following results. First, adaptation to school life at a previous point affected self-esteem at a later point, self-esteem at a previous point affected life satisfaction at a later point. In other words, school life adaptation in 4th grade had a positive effect on life satisfaction in 6th grade through selfesteem at 5th grade. Second, life satisfaction at a previous point affected self-esteem at a later point. Selfesteem at an earlier point had an effect on school life adaptation at a later point. That is, life satisfaction in 4th grade had a positive effect on school life adaptation in 6th grade through self-esteem at 5th grade.Conclusion: This study found a bidirectional relationship of school life adaptation and life satisfaction with self-esteem as a mediating variable over time.