본 연구는 경쟁과 성취결과가 강조되고 내적 동기 추구가 좌절되기 쉬운 학업환경에서 청소년의 물질주의 가치 추구와 이들의 심리적 그리고 학업적 적응과의 관계를 밝히고 각각의 관계를 설명하는 매개변인을 검증하기 위해 실시되었다. 구체적으로 청소년들이 물질주의 가치를 추구할수록 자율성, 유능성, 관계성의 기본심리욕구 좌절을 더 경험하며 이는 곧 심리적 부적응과 학업성취 저하로 이어질 것이라고 예상하였다. 또한 물질주의 추구가 여성의 심리적 적응에 더 해가 된다는 선행 연구에 근거하여 물질주의와 심리적 부적응의 관계에서 성차를 예상하고 성별에 따른 차이도 검증하였다. 가설 검증을 위해 제주지역에 위치한 일반계 고등학교에 재학 중인 남자 청소년 195명과 여자 청소년 142명의 총 337명을 대상으로 물질주의, 기본심리욕구, 심리적 부적응에 관한 자기보고식 설문을 실시하였고 학업성취는 전국연합학력평가 성적을 사용하였다. 분석결과 물질주의는 심리적 부적응을 정적으로, 학업성취를 부적으로 예측하였고 각각의 관계를 자율성, 유능성, 관계성의 기본심리욕구가 완전 매개하는 것으로 나타났다. 다집단 분석을 통해 성차를 검증한 결과 물질주의와 심리적 부적응의 관계에서 유의한 성차는 나타나지 않았다. 본 연구는 물질주의와 같은 외적 가치의 지향이 내적 만족에 중요한 가치들을 대신함으로써 심리적 적응과 학업 성취에 부정적인 영향을 주는 것을 확인하였고 결과만이 중시되고 경쟁을 부추기며 통제적인 내적 동기를 낮추는 국내의 교육환경에서 인간의 기본적 심리 욕구를 충족하는 물질적인 것 이전의 본질적인 가치가 무엇이었는지 재고할 필요성을 제시한 의의가 있다. 본 연구결과가 청소년 정책 및 상담에 갖는 함의점과 후속연구를 위한 제언을 논의하였다.
The purpose of this study was to identify the relationship between materialistic value, basic psychological needs, psychological maladjustment and academic achievement among Korean adolescents. Specifically, we hypothesized that the adolescents’ materialistic value would predict increased psychological maladjustment and decreased academic achievement, and basic psychological needs would mediate these relationships respectively. We further hypothesized that there would be a number of gender related differences between materialistic value and psychological maladjustment. 337 adolescents(boys:195, girls:142) were surveyed on their attitudes to materialistic value, basic psychological needs, depression and anxiety. Data related to their academic achievement was collected from nationwide scholastic aptitude test scores. Our results revealed that there was a positive relationship between materialistic value and psychological maladjustment, and a negative relationship between materialistic value and academic achievement. Basic psychological needs had fully mediating effects between both relationships. There was no gender related differences between materialistic value and psychological maladjustment. These findings suggest that materialism could result in maladjustment among adolescents through frustration of their basic psychological needs, combined with the Korean social and educational environment. Further implications and limitations of this study were also discussed.
The purpose of this study was to identify the relationship between materialistic value, basic psychological needs, psychological maladjustment and academic achievement among Korean adolescents. Specifically, we hypothesized that the adolescents’ materialistic value would predict increased psychological maladjustment and decreased academic achievement, and basic psychological needs would mediate these relationships respectively. We further hypothesized that there would be a number of gender related differences between materialistic value and psychological maladjustment. 337 adolescents(boys:195, girls:142) were surveyed on their attitudes to materialistic value, basic psychological needs, depression and anxiety. Data related to their academic achievement was collected from nationwide scholastic aptitude test scores. Our results revealed that there was a positive relationship between materialistic value and psychological maladjustment, and a negative relationship between materialistic value and academic achievement. Basic psychological needs had fully mediating effects between both relationships. There was no gender related differences between materialistic value and psychological maladjustment. These findings suggest that materialism could result in maladjustment among adolescents through frustration of their basic psychological needs, combined with the Korean social and educational environment. Further implications and limitations of this study were also discussed.
