Adolescents’ Discrimination Experience and Mental Health: Focused on Mediating Effect of Positive Self-perception

This study analyzes the impact of discrimination experiences on the mental health of adolescents and investigates the mediating effect of positive self-perception. Utilizing data from the 2022 Korea Child and Youth Panel Survey conducted by the Korea Youth Policy Institute, the experiences of discrimination, positive self-perception, and mental health (measured using a Likert scale) of 5,710 middle and high school students were analyzed using SPSS 29.0. The findings indicate that discrimination experiences among adolescents negatively affect their positive self-perception and mental health. On the other hand, positive self-perception was found to partially mediate the negative effects of discrimination experiences on mental health. Specifically, hierarchical regression analysis of discrimination experiences showed negative impacts on mental health in the order of academic performance, younger age, gender, physical appearance (height, weight, etc.), and parental absence. These results highlight the importance of enhancing awareness of discrimination situations among adolescents and implementing educational programs to foster positive self-perception. Additionally, proactive efforts are needed to improve social and cultural environments to prevent discrimination experiences among adolescents. Policies should be designed to prevent adolescents mental health from the deterioration as a result of discrimination experiences, and to strengthen measures to foster positive self-perceptions.