Developmental Trajectories and Predictors of Self-Esteem in Childhood: Growth Mixture Modeling Approach

Abstract

Objectives: The four-wave longitudinal study explored developmental trajectories of self-esteem of elementary school children and examined the predictive factors such as the mother’s parenting behavior, children’s happiness and school adjustment associated with these trajectories.Methods: Trajectories of self-esteem from grades 1 to 4 were modeled using 1,659 children drawn from the Panel Study on Korean Children (PSKC) 2015~2018. Growth Mixture Modeling (GMM) analysis was used to estimate trajectories of self-esteem in grades 1~4. Using multiple logistic regression, the identified trajectories were then used to analyze whether the mother’s parenting, children’s happiness, and school adjustment affected the latent class classification.Results: First, the self-esteem of grades 1 to 4 revealed a linear growth pattern over time. Second, GMM identified four developmental trajectories in childhood self-esteem, of which the low-increasing, low-decreasing, high-increasing, or moderate-decreasing group reflected the normative trajectories. Third, the mother’s warm parenting, the academic performance of school adjustment, and the happiness of the children were significant in predicting the classification of latent class in the change trajectories of self-esteem.Conclusion: The results showed individual differences and heterogeneity in the development of selfesteem. Groups’ initial different developmental levels at first grade continue until grade 4. Developmental trajectories provide the direction for interventions by the level of self-esteem for elementary children. Especially, educational programs and interventions in mothers’ warm parenting, children’s happiness, and academic performance, which affect self-esteem trajectories, would be needed. These findings provide a meaningful foundation for designing programs and practical suggestions to encourage the self-esteem of elementary children.