청소년의 놀 기회와 사회적 관계성에서 놀이 환경의 조절효과 = Moderating Effect of Play Environment on the Relationship between Play Opportunities and Social Relationships in Adolescents

다국어 초록 (Multilingual Abstract)

Purpose This study aimed to examine the impact of play opportunities and play environments on the social relationships of children and adolescents in South Korea, focusing particularly on the moderating effect of the play environment. Recently, South Korea has recognized the significance of leisure and play for enhancing citizens' happiness and quality of life, leading to various policy initiatives. However, qualitative aspects of the play environment and opportunities for children and adolescents still exhibit limitations, and there is insufficient in-depth research on their influence on social relationship development. Thus, this study was conducted based on these policy backgrounds and academic needs. Methods Data for this study were drawn from the 2021 survey conducted by the National Youth Policy Institute, titled “Survey on the Current Status of Children's and Adolescents' Play Culture and Growth Support.” The sample consisted of 2,992 participants, including 1,006 elementary school students, 987 middle school students, and 999 high school students. The main variables included play opportunities, play environment, and social relationships. Statistical analyses, including descriptive statistics, correlation analyses, and moderation analyses of the play environment, were performed using SPSS 28.0 and the Process Macro. Results The study's findings were as follows. First, play opportunities positively influenced the social relationships of children and adolescents. Second, the play environment was also found to significantly positively affect social relationships. Third, the play environment showed a meaningful moderating effect on the relationship between play opportunities and social relationships, demonstrating that as the quality of the play environment improved, the positive influence of play opportunities on social relationships became stronger. Conclusion The findings suggest that enhancing the social relationships of children and adolescents requires not only quantitative expansion of play opportunities but also qualitative improvements in the play environment. Future policy support should thus focus primarily on enhancing the quality of the play environment, thereby significantly contributing to the holistic growth and well-being of children and adolescents.