The Influence of High School Students' School Mood on Democratic Citizenship: focused on the mediating Social Competence

Objectives The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between high school students' school atmosphere, democratic citizenship, and social competence, and to find out the mediating effect of social competence in the influence of high school students' school atmosphere on democratic citizenship. Methods The subject of the study was a random sample of first-year high school students located in the K area. The subjects of the study were 180 students, and all consisted of male students. The research method used tools to measure school atmosphere, democratic citizenship, and social competence. As for the analysis method, first, the correlation between school atmosphere, social competence, and democratic citizenship consciousness was calculated. Second, a regression analysis was conducted to examine the effect of school atmosphere and social competence on democratic citizenship consciousness. Third, the process macro was implemented to examine the mediating effect of social competence in the relationship between school atmosphere and democratic citizenship consciousness. Results First, school atmosphere, democratic citizenship, and social competence showed significant positive correlations. Second, the sub-factors of the school atmosphere, such as companionship, relationship with teachers, and reflection of students' opinions, influenced democratic citizenship. Interaction initiation, emotional support, and conflict management, which are sub-factors of social competence, influenced democratic citizenship. Third, social competence showed a mediating effect in the relationship between democratic citizenship consciousness in the school atmosphere. Conclusions These results suggest that it is necessary to create a class atmosphere and support a sense of social competence to increase the democratic citizenship consciousness of high school students.