The effect of youth's sense of community on multicultural acceptance: Focusing on the mediating effects of life satisfaction

Objectives The main purpose of this study is to verify the mediating effect of life satisfaction in the relationship between sense of community and multicultural acceptance of Korean adolescents. Methods To explore the research questions, data from the ‘generation Z teenagers' values change research data’ were utilized, with a final analysis sample of 5,636 adolescents. Descriptive statistics, correlation analysis, and other analyses were conducted using SPSS 26 and PROCESS macro 4.2 to examine the relationships between sense of community, life satisfaction, willingness to participate in society, and multicultural acceptance. Results In summary of the analysis results, firstly, statistically significant, sense of community had a direct influence on multicultural acceptance, and it indirectly influenced multicultural acceptance through life satisfaction as a mediator. Secondly, the indirect effect of sense of community on multicultural acceptance through life satisfaction was statistically significantly moderated by the willingness to express opinions on social participation. Additionally, the mediating effect of sense of communityon multicultural acceptance through life satisfaction was higher in the group willing to express opinions on social participation compared to the group not willing to express opinions. Conclusions Based on the findings of this study, recommendations for enhancing multicultural acceptance among adolescents and suggestions for further research were provided.