The Impact of Social Capital and Self-Esteem on the Quality of Life of the Young Unemployed
Title
The Impact of Social Capital and Self-Esteem on the Quality of Life of the Young Unemployed
Alternative Author(s)
Lee, Nakyung
Keyword
Social Capital
; Self-Esteem
; Quality of Life
; Employment
; Connectedness
; Happiness
Publication Year
2022-06-30
Publisher
Korea Institute for Health and Social Affairs
Citation
Health and Social Welfare Review Vol.42 No.2, pp.220-242
Abstract
The youth unemployment rate in Korea driven by prolonged economic stagnation has been steadily rising, threatening the quality of life of the young people. In searching for the alternatives this study explores the roles of self-esteem and social capital in terms of trust, generalized reciprocity, and social network. While considering the perceptual impacts that are bestowed on the individuals through the status of being employed, this study examines each difference in social capital and self-esteem respectively, among the individuals between groups of the young employed and the young unemployed, aged 19 to 38 at the time of the survey in 2018. It further examines the mediating effect of self-esteem in the relationship between social capital and the quality of life of the young unemployed. By conducting t-test, Baron & Kenny's mediating effect analysis and Sobel test, first, statistically significant differences in social network and self-esteem between the young unemployed and the young employed were found. Second, the mediating effects of self-esteem in the relationship between all three components of social capital and the quality of life were observed. The results of this study indicate the need for the systematic alternatives to sense of alienation and loss of identity experienced by the young unemployed as their connection with society is structurally being put at stake.
ISSN
1226-072X
KIHASA Research Subject Classification
General social security > Social cohesion
General social security > Social security statistics