Bicultural acceptance attitude and school adjustment in multicultural adolescents in South Korea: A latent growth model approach

Dasom Han

Children and Youth Services Review, 2026, vol. 180, issue C

Abstract: Multicultural adolescents in South Korea often face significant challenges in school, underscoring the importance of identifying factors that promote successful adjustment. This study analyzed a nationally representative longitudinal dataset of multicultural adolescents followed over five years to investigate the role of bicultural acceptance attitude in shaping school adjustment. Using a latent growth modeling approach, the study confirmed that a higher initial level of bicultural acceptance was positively associated with school adjustment at baseline, and this relationship was mediated by self-esteem. Furthermore, increases in bicultural acceptance attitude over time predicted corresponding increases in school adjustment, with rising self-esteem serving as a significant mediator. These results emphasize that bicultural acceptance is not only an important starting point but also a dynamic developmental process that contributes to both psychological and academic adaptation. This study offers meaningful implications for culturally responsive educational practices and interventions designed to enhance the school experiences and outcomes of multicultural adolescents in South Korea.

Keywords: Bicultural acceptance attitude; School adjustment; Self-esteem; Multicultural adolescents; Latent growth model (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2026
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:cysrev:v:180:y:2026:i:c:s0190740925005444

DOI: 10.1016/j.childyouth.2025.108661

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