Relationship between satisfaction with adolescent extracurricular activities and social withdrawal: The mediating effect of self-esteem and sense of community

This study examines the effect of satisfaction with adolescent extracurricular activities on social withdrawal with a focus on the mediating effect of self-esteem and sense of community. We used data from the 3rd wave (2012) of the Korean Children and Youth Panel Survey (KCYPS) collected by the National Youth Policy Institute for path analysis. Participants were 1,139 first year middle school students who participated in adolescent extracurricular activities. First, the degree of satisfaction with the adolescent extracurricular activities had an indirect effect on social withdrawal via self-esteem. Second, satisfaction with the adolescent extracurricular activities had an indirect effect on social withdrawal via a sense of community. Lastly, satisfaction with adolescent extracurricular activities had an indirect effect on social withdrawal via self-esteem and a sense of community. The research findings indicate that the level of social withdrawal is less when adolescents are satisfied with adolescent extracurricular activities and have a high level of self-esteem and sense of community. The results demonstrate that a satisfactory level of adolescent extracurricular activity would help adolescents decrease their social withdrawal by increasing the level of self-esteem and sense of community.