Factors Affecting the Life Satisfaction of Multicultural Adolescents According to Gender: Self-Perception and Relational Aspects

Abstract

Objectives This study aimed to explore the factors that affected life satisfaction in multicultural adolescents according to gender in terms of self-perception and relational aspects.
 Methods The data used in this study were from the eighth wave of the Multicultural Adolescents Panel Study conducted by the National Youth Policy Institute. Multiple logistic regression analysis was performed using SPSS version 28.0. In step 1, self-perception factors were analyzed. In step 2, self-perception, relational factors, and general characteristics were analyzed.
 Results In step 1, self-esteem had the greatest influence on life satisfaction in both boys (β=.32, p<.001) and girls (β=.43, p<.001). In step 2, parental support had the largest effect of the relational factors on life satisfaction in both boys (β=.12, p=.003) and girls (β=.11, p=.005). The factors that most affected life satisfaction according to gender were national identity (β=.09, p=.011) and residence in large cities (β=-.09, p=.006), which disproportionately affected boys, and a poor perceived household economic status (β=-.08, p=.011) and the number of close friends (β=.07, p=.038), which disproportionately affected girls.
 Conclusions Efforts to improve the life satisfaction of multicultural adolescents should include strategies to enhance self-perception and parental support and consider gender differences.