This study examined the relationships between children`s perceptions of mothers` psychological control, and children`s behavior problems(depression, anxiety, withdrawal, and aggression). In order to expand the study on the relationships, special atten...
This study examined the relationships between children`s perceptions of mothers` psychological control, and children`s behavior problems(depression, anxiety, withdrawal, and aggression). In order to expand the study on the relationships, special attention was given to the possible moderator effects of children`s sex and peer acceptance on the relationships. The subjects were 272 6th graders residing in Seoul. It was found that children`s perceptions of mothers` psychological control was significantly related with the levels of children`s depression, anxiety, withdrawal, and aggression. The results indicated that mothers` higher psychological control was related to higher levels of children`s depression, anxiety, withdrawal, and aggression. No significant sex difference was found in the relationship between children`s perceptions of mothers` psychological control and children`s behavior problems although all of the correlations between mothers` psychological control and each of the behavior problem variables were somewhat higher among boys than among girls. Children`s perceptions of peer acceptance were found to be a significant moderator of the relationship between mothers` psychological control and children`s depression, and of the relationship between mothers` psychological control and children`s aggression. These findings indicated that peer acceptance could function as a protecting factor for children who perceive their mothers to be psychologically controlling.