The Relationship among Self-Esteem, Social Skills, Social Intimacy and Quality of Life in Early Adolescents

This study was conducted with the aim of establishing basic data for effective interventions to improve the quality of life of early adolescents by identifying the relationship between self-esteem, social skills, social intimacy, and quality of life. To this end, data were collected for 4-6th graders in one elementary school in the central region. Prior to the survey, guidance on the purpose of research and voluntary consent to participate in research was presented to parents and students, and the survey was conducted only for those who agreed to participate. Finally, an analysis was conducted on 202 students in the 4th and 6th grades who participated in the survey. The main results summary and discussion are as follows. First, self-esteem had a direct effect on social skills. Second, social technology showed a direct effect on social intimacy. Third, social intimacy showed a direct effect on the quality of life. Fourth, it was found that social intimacy was partially mediated in the process of social technology affecting the quality of life. Fifth, the direct effect of self-esteem toward the quality of life was not significant, and the indirect effect of mediating social skills or dual social skills and social intimacy was significant. According to the results, a program to improve the quality of youth life through self-esteem and social skills was proposed.