The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship among mothers' happiness, their parenting behavior and young children's self-regulation. The research questions were as follows: (a)Were there any relationship between mothers' happiness, ...
The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship among mothers' happiness, their parenting behavior and young children's self-regulation. The research questions were as follows: (a)Were there any relationship between mothers' happiness, their parenting behavior and young children's self-regulation? (b)What relative contribution do mothers' happiness and their parenting behavior to young children's self-regulation?
Two hundred and fifty mothers with 4-5 aged young children in Seoul city answered the questionnaire consisting of Inventory of Happiness of Life, Iowa Parent Behavior Inventory(IPBI) and Self-regulation Scale for young children.
To test hypotheses, correlation analysis, MANOVA, one-way ANOVA, and Multiple regressional analysis were employed.
The major findings were as follows.
First, mothers' happiness was found to be positively correlated with their parenting behavior. In addition, sub-factors of mothers' parenting behaviors was found to be positively correlated with sub-factors of young children's self-regulation except some variables such as reasoning guidance and emotionality, limited setting and emotionality, and responsiveness and emotionality. There was also significant difference in young children's self-regulation according to mothers' happiness. The higher the level of happiness of mothers was, the higher the level of young children's self-regulation. The higher the level of parenting behaviors was, the higher the level of young children's self-regulation.
Second, young children's self-regulation was significantly predicted by mothers' happiness and their parenting behavior. Especially, young children's self-evaluation was best explained by reasonable guidance, and young children's self-determination was best explained by mothers' intimacy among mothers' parenting behaviors.