The purpose of this study were to examine the differences of preschooler's effortful control based on age and gender and to explore the relationships among parents' effortful control, affectionate parenting behavior, preschooler's effortful control, p...
The purpose of this study were to examine the differences of preschooler's effortful control based on age and gender and to explore the relationships among parents' effortful control, affectionate parenting behavior, preschooler's effortful control, prosocial behavior, and cognitive problem-solving ability.
In this study, subjects were 221 preschoolers(104 boys, 117 girls) and their parents. Parents' effortful controls were assessed by Adult Temperament Questionnaire-Short Form and affectionate parenting behaviors were assessed by Parenting Style Scale. Preschooler's effortful controls were measured by Effortful Control Battery(Snack Delay, Turtle and Rabbit, and Red-Green Sign) and Children's Behavior Questionnaire-Short Form. Preschooler's prosocial behaviors were measured by Prosocial Behavior Scale-Short Form, and cognitive problem-solving was assessed by Truck Loading and Monkey Jumping Game.
Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, analysis of variance(ANOVA), zero-order correlation analyses, and structural equation model(SEM).
The major results of this study were as follows;
First, there were significant differences in preschooler's effortful control by gender. And there were significant differences by ages in preschooler's effortful control measured by Effortful Control Battery.
Second, parents' effortful control showed direct effects on preschooler's effortful control, and affectionate parenting behavior mediated the effects of parents' effortful control on preschooler's effortful control.
Third, preschooler's effortful control mediated the effects of affectionate parenting behavior on preschooler's prosocial behavior.
Fourth, preschooler's effortful control showed direct effects on prosocial behavior, and prosocial behavior mediated the effects of preschooler's effortful control on cognitive problem-solving ability.
In conclusion, parents' effortful control and affectionate parenting behavior effect on preschooler's effortful control. And preschooler's effortful control has an important role in prosocial behavior and cognitive problem-solving ability.