Exploring the impact of discrimination experiences on the peer relationship trajectories of multicultural adolescents in South Korea

This study aimed to determine whether the trajectory of change in peer relationships among multicultural adolescents differs depending on their experiences of discrimination. For this purpose, a latent growth model analysis was conducted using three years of data from 2271 people (49.0% female; mean age 10.05–12.05) who participated in the second phase of Multicultural Adolescents Panel Study. The analysis showed that the trajectory of change in peer relationships was slower in cases of discrimination than in cases with no experience of discrimination. Gender, self-esteem, acculturation, parental supervision and neglect, teacher support, and academic performance were significant predictive factors. Based on these results, it was confirmed that discrimination is a negative factor in the social development of multicultural adolescents, and the need for related interventions is discussed.