This study examines the communication between parents and children and self-expression and correlations of peer relationships targeting six grade elementary students. And it finds out the mediator effect of self expression on the communication between...
This study examines the communication between parents and children and self-expression and correlations of peer relationships targeting six grade elementary students. And it finds out the mediator effect of self expression on the communication between parents and children and relationship of peer relationships.
This study conducted survey targeting six grade male and female students of four elementary schools in Gyeongi-do and analyzed 193 questionnaires out of total 218 questionnaires after leaving out 25 questionnaires which did not answer or answered insincerely.
To measure the communication between parents and children, Min Ha-young’s questionnaire that modified and adapted the measure of Barnes and Olson (1932) was used. And to measure self-expression, the questionnaire of Byun Changjin and Kim Sunghee that modified and adapted the measure of Rakos and Schroeder (1980) was used. To measure the peer relationship of children, the questionnaire of Hwang Sukyoung (2007) that modified and adapted IPPA-R measure of Gllone and Robinson was used.
In this study data was analyzed using SPSS 18.0 statistics program. To examine general characteristics of the subject as the basic data for verifying research issue, this study calculated average and standard deviation through descriptive statistic analysis and it also calculated item internal consistency to verify credibility of each measurement tool. And this study conducted a correlation analysis to examine the communication between parents, children and children’s self expression, and the correlation of peer relationship. And it also carried out hierarchical regression analyses to verify mediator effect of self expression.
The research findings which this research got through above processes are as follows:
First, the research findings about the communication between parents and children, children’s self expression, and general trend of peer relationship of children showed that children communicate with their parents openly and comparatively they do positive self expression and children perceive that they have positive relationship with their parents.
Second, correlation analysis about the communication between parents and children, children’s self expression, and peer relationship of children showed all meaningful correlation statistically. The communication between father and mother, which children aware, has a meaningful positive relationship on self expression and peer relationship. Two variables in the relationship between self expression and peer relationship which children perceive showed all meaningful positive relationship.
Third, after this study carried out regression analysis to examine mediator effect of self expression in the communication between father and child and the relation of peer relationship, the result showed that self expression has mediator effect on the communication between father and child which children perceive partly. We can figure out that the open communication between child and father has positive effect on development of children’s self expression and active self expression has important effect on peer relationship.
Fourth, after this study carried out regression analysis to examine mediator effect of self expression in the communication between mother and child and the relation of peer relationship, the result showed that self expression has mediator effect on the communication between mother and child and peer relationship partly. We can find out that the more communication children have with their mothers, the more self expression they raise and such active self expression has positive effect on peer relationship.
Based on this research result, we should plan to have training program for parents about open communication so that children can have healthy peer relationship and we should make instruction plan with family. Additionally, we should keep researching to develop and use desirable programs so that children raise self expression.
Key words: the communication between parents and children, self expression, peer relationship.