The Longitudinal Mediating Role of Peer Attachment in the Relationship between Affective School Environment and Children's Sense of Community

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to identify the longitudinal mediating effects of peer attachment on the relationship between psychological school environment and children's sense of community. Data on 1,088 children were obtained from the 10<sup>th</sup>, 11<sup>th</sup>, and 13<sup>th</sup> Panel Study on Korean Children in the 3rd 4th, and 6th grades. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Cronbach's α, Pearson's correlation, a latent growth model, and a multivariate latent growth model. All analyses were conducted in SPSS 25.0 and AMOS 23.0. The principal results were as follows. First, children's peer attachment gradually decreased over time. Moreover, individual differences existed in the initial values and rates of change. Second, the psychological school environment in the 3rd grade positively influenced children's initial peer attachment, which then exerted a positive impact on children's sense of community in the 6th grade. Second, the psychological school environment in the 3rd grade negatively influenced children's rates of change, which also exerted a positive impact on children's sense of community in the 6th grade. Finally, the initial value and rates of change of peer attachment were significant mediating effects of the relationship between the psychological school environment in the 3rd grade and children's sense of community in the 6th grade. The findings highlight the necessity of creating a psychological school environment that develops peer attachment and a sense of community among children.