The Mediating Effects Of Life Goals On The Relationship Between Trust And Multicultural Awareness; Differences Of Middle School And High School

Abstract

This research aimed to examine whether there are differences in interpersonal trust, impersonal trust, selfish and altruistic life goals, and multicultural awareness between middle school and high school students. Additionally, the study sought to verify whether the influence of interpersonal trust and impersonal trust on multicultural awareness, mediated by selfish and altruistic life goals, differs between middle school and high school students. The research findings are as follows: First, multicultural awareness did not differ between middle school and high school students. However, interpersonal trust, impersonal trust, selfish life goals, and altruistic life goals were higher in middle school students compared to high school students. Second, both middle school and high school students exhibited higher levels of multicultural awareness when they had higher levels of interpersonal trust. In contrast, impersonal trust had no significant impact on multicultural awareness in either group. However, the mediating effects of selfish and altruistic life goals differed between middle school and high school students. For middle school students, selfish life goals had no mediating effects, while altruistic life goals mediated interpersonal trust and multicultural awareness statically. For high school students, selfish life goals were found to mediate interpersonal and impersonal trust with multicultural awareness. Altruistic life goals also statically mediated interpersonal trust and impersonal trust with multicultural awareness. These findings indicate that the relationships between trust, life goals, and multicultural awareness differ between middle school and high school students, highlighting the need for tailored interventions and educational approaches for each group.