Abstract

This study evaluated the mediation effect of self-concept clarity and self-esteem on the relationship between parents' overprotection and social anxiety in early adolescents. We conducted a questionnaire survey on parents' overprotection, self-concept clarity, self-esteem, and social anxiety for 461 students in elementary and middle schools located in Gangwon-do. Data was analyzed using SPSS the 25.0 program and AMOS 24.0 program. The results of the correlation analysis between major variables showed that, parental overprotection had a significant positive correlation with adolescents' social anxiety, and a negative correlation with self-concept clarity and self-esteem. In addition, self-concept clarity and self-esteem showed a significant negative correlation with social anxiety, and self-concept clarity and self-esteem showed a significant positive correlation with each other. Notably, the clarity of self-concept in the path of overprotection of parents and social anxiety in early adolescence showed a complete mediating effect. In addition, self-concept clarity and self-esteem were sequentially mediated in the path of parental overprotection and early adolescents' social anxiety. The significance and limitations of this study. In addition, based on the above results, suggestions for subsequent studies were discussed.