Connectedness of Korean adolescents: profiles and influencing factors

• Published in: Asia Pacific education review Vol. 13; no. 4; pp. 593 - 605
• Main Authors: Shin, HaeJin, Yu, Kumlan
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrecht Springer Netherlands 01.12.2012; Springer; Springer Nature B.V; 교육연구소
• Subjects: Adolescents; Behavior Problems; Education; Foreign Countries; Gender Differences; Grade 6; Korea; Measures (Individuals); Multivariate Analysis; Neighborhoods; Outcomes of Education; Parent Child Relationship; Profiles; Self Esteem; Siblings; Student Adjustment; Student School Relationship; 교육학; South Korea; Connectedness; Adjustment; Korean adolescents; Multiple contexts; Problem behaviors
• ISSN: 1598-1037; 1876-407X
• DOI: 10.1007/s12564-012-9222-0

The purpose of the present study was to identify profiles of Korean adolescent connectedness across multiple contexts (e.g., family, school, neighborhood, etc.), using cluster analysis. In addition, this study examined how the profiles of Korean adolescent connectedness are discriminated by demographic and adjustment-related variables. Data were collected from 538 Korean adolescents aged 13–19. Participants completed a Korean version of Measure of Adolescent Connectedness (MAC-K). Results from a cluster analysis revealed three profiles of connectedness to parents, siblings, teachers, school, friends, and neighborhood. Results placed participants into categories of Well-connected, Disconnected, and Socially connected. The first two profiles were characterized by reports of either strong or weak connectedness to all contexts. The last profile is characterized by reports of strong connections only to friends and neighborhood. The results also indicated that adolescents’ school adjustment, problem behaviors, self-esteem, and gender were significant discriminators between the three profiles. Implications for counseling practice and future studies are discussed.