The Relationship Between Parents’ Achievement Pressure and Child’s Future Perspective in Middle School: Longitudinal Sequential Mediating Effects of Self-esteem and Overall Happiness

Abstract

Objectives This study investigates the longitudinal effects of parental achievement pressure in fourth and fifth grade on their child’s future perspective in seventh grade. Methods For this purpose, the study used data collected in the 11th (2018), 12th (2019), 13th (2020), and 14th (2021) year of the Panel Study of Korean Children, and it selected 1,115 households that met all the variables. Using the SPSS 27.0 and AMOS 26.0 programs, the study examined the basic attributes of the data and analyzed it with a structural equation model. Results First, there were significant correlations among all the variables including parents' achievement pressure in fourth and fifth grade children, children's self-esteem and overall happiness in sixth grade, and their future perspective in seventh grade. Secondly, children's self-esteem and overall happiness had sequential mediating effects on the relations between parents' achievement pressure and future perspective. That is, parents' achievement pressure in their child’s fourth and fifth grade had effects on their children's self-esteem and overall happiness in sixth grade and thus negative impacts on their future perspective in seventh grade. Conclusions The findings of the study imply that parenting attitudes that are focused on the child’s changes and growth are important in their formation of a positive future perspective in seventh grade. The study examined comprehensively relations among the variables that were partially tested and checked their path, thus holding its significance.