Drawing on first wave data from Korean Children and Youth Panel Survey 2010, this study
attempts to explore the determinants of ego resiliency among junior high school students with a
social psychological approach using hierarchical linear model(HLM) method. The results show
that adolescents’gender, health condition, participation in volunteer activities, recognition of
value of schooling, and parental education level are closely related to their ego resiliency. In
addition, social support from parents, peer students, teachers, and neighbors is proven to play an
important role in determining their ego resiliency. Contrary to a priori expectations, however,
poverty, family structure, participation in religious activities, and being raised in a multicultural
family by themselves have little to do with adolescents’ ego resiliency. At the school level, a
high level of average peer support is likely to result in stronger ego resiliency. Taken together,
it could be said that having adolescents build close meaningful relationships with others in and
outside of the family is the most effective way to have them strengthen their ego resiliency.
Finally, the current school climate, which is often characterized by strong pressure on academic
success and fierce competition, should be changed drastically so that more adolescents could
find their school lives more fruitful and meaningful.