Article

A Study of Longitudinal Changes and the Variables related to Stress in Early Adolescents: The Use of a Latent Growth Model

Author

조윤주

Information

pp. 17~35 / 2010 Vol.17 No.3

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate longitudinal changes of early adolescents\' stress levels and the predictive effect of the relevant variables. Data from the Korean Youth Panel Study data(KYPS: utilizing the data from elementary school 4th-grade through 5th year cohorts) was used and analyzed through latent growth curve models. The results were as follows. First, stress was observed to increase, especially from the 6th grade of elementary school year to the 1st grade of middle school. Second, gender, self-esteem, depression, household income, the parent-child relationship, parental discord, parental abuse, delinquent peers, and academic pressure were statistically significant variables related to the intercept of stress which occurs at the 4th year of elementary school. Moreover, sex, self-esteem, depression, parental discord, parental abuse, and academic pressure were statistically significant when related to the degree of stress. Findings from this study suggest the need to consider the impact of predictive variables when it comes to intervention and prevention of stress strategies in early adolescents.

Keywords