Analysis of Longitudinal Relationship among Elementary and Middle School Students Multicultural Acceptance, Self-concept, and Community Consciousness using the Latent Growth Model

Choi Eun-Ju,Lee Kyung-Hwa

doi:10.26822/iejee.2021.212

Abstract

As the proportion of multicultural family increases in Korea, there has been an acceleration in the emergence of a multicultural and multiracial society, resulting in more students with different cultural backgrounds in schools. Therefore, it is necessary to achieve harmony and integration among people from various cultures and backgrounds. The purpose of this study was to identify how multicultural acceptability affects self-concept and community consciousness by using longitudinal data collected for elementary and middle school students using a latent growth model, and to confirm the relationship between these variables. As a result of the study, first, it was confirmed that the multicultural acceptance of elementary and middle school students influences the development of self-concept and community consciousness. Second, a positive correlation was found between the three variables of multicultural acceptance, self-concept, and community consciousness. This study has implications for establishing educational measures relating to multicultural acceptance, self-concept, and community consciousness for adolescents, who are at the stage where perceptions and attitudes toward diverse races and different cultures are cultivated.

Highlights

As the proportion of multicultural family increases in Korea, there has been an acceleration in the emergence of a multicultural and multiracial society
This study aimed to clarify whether multicultural acceptance affects the development of self-concept and community consciousness from the 5th grade of elementary school to 3rd grade of middle school, and to confirm the relationship between multicultural acceptance, self-concept, and community consciousness
The results of the study confirmed that multicultural acceptance has an effect on the development of self-concept and community consciousness, and that there is a positive relationship between the three variables

Summary

Introduction

As the proportion of multicultural family increases in Korea, there has been an acceleration in the emergence of a multicultural and multiracial society. The number of students enrolled in higher education institutions with diverse cultural backgrounds and nationalities is increasing every year (Lee, Chung, Jang, Jang, & Kim, 2017). The number of multicultural households nationwide in Korea is about 353,800 (Korea National Statistical Office, 2019); efforts to harmonize and integrate Koreans and people from various backgrounds are indispensable to a multicultural society (Lee, 2015). Efforts are required to change the perspective, perception, attitude, and values of members of society toward people from various cultural backgrounds (Choi, 2014). This multicultural attitude is a necessary competency for living in a modern society (Kim, Lee, & Song, 2020)

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