The Effect of Academic stress on Adolescent Depression and Aggression Mediated by Self-esteem and School Maladjustment

Adolescent depression and aggression brought on by academic stress are the causes of youth suicide and school violence. But reducing academic stress in educational environments in Korea is not an easy matter. Therefore we must try to find ways to reduce adolescent depression and aggression by identifying the mediating effects that lead from academic stress to adolescent depression and aggression. Data were obtained from the third wave middle school panel of the Korea Youth Panel Survey(KYPS). The results show that academic stress has positive effects on adolescent depression, aggression and school maladjustment, and negative effects on self-esteem. Specifically, self-esteem as a mediating effect had negative effects on adolescent depression, and aggression and school maladjustment as a mediating effect had positive effects on adolescent depression, and aggression. Based on these results, social service programs for youth, and networks between school and community welfare organizations are proposed.