The Effect of Youth’s Subjective Class Perception and Class Mobility on Life Satisfaction: Verification of the Mediating Effect of Social Participation

Abstract

This study tried to verify the mediating effect of social participation in the effects of subjective class perception and class mobility perceived by young people on life satisfaction. To this end, the 2021 social survey data was used for analysis. The subject of this study was analyzed by sampling 2,638 young people between the ages of 19 and 34 who correspond to the youth specified in the Framework Act on Youth among the respondents. The analysis results are as follows. First, it was confirmed that the higher the subjective class perception and the higher class mobility awareness of the youth, the higher the life satisfaction. Second, social participation was found to have a partial mediating effect on the class perception and class mobility of the youth. Based on the above research results, policies and practical implications that can improve life satisfaction by solving inequality problems perceived by young people are suggested.