The purpose of this study was to investigate the interaction effects of daily stress and ego-resilience of children on children's maladjustment according to their gender. This study ultimately intended to provide various suggestions which can be appli...
The purpose of this study was to investigate the interaction effects of daily stress and ego-resilience of children on children's maladjustment according to their gender. This study ultimately intended to provide various suggestions which can be applied for parent education program and child·family counseling. The theoretical model was specified and estimated. Subjects of this study consisted of 837 children drawn from fifth and sixth grade students at elementary schools in Cheong-ju city. The pilot study was used to examine the applicability of survey instrument. Data were analyzed by frequency, percentage, Cronbach's α, t-test, F-test, Tukey post-hoc test, and correlation using SPSS 12.0 program. The test of model was done with analysis of correlational matrix in AMOS 5.0 package using a maximum likelihood estimation.
The results of this study were as follows:
First, there were statistically differences in children's daily stress such as parent-related stress, home environment-related stress, friends-related stress, and academic-related stress according to children's gender and age, economic status of family, and mother's job.
Second, there were significant differences in vitality of ego-resilience according to economic status of family and father's job.
Third, there were statistically differences in children's maladjustment that consisted internalizing and externalizing maladjustment according to their gender, economic status of family, father's job, and family types.
Fourth, the theoretical model proposed was supported by the data and fitted adequately for boys and girls. For boys, internalizing maladjustment was directly and indirectly explained by parent-related stress whereas parent-related stress had only direct effect on girls' internalizing maladjustment. Also, for boys and girls, internalizing maladjustment were direct and indirect effects on friends-related stress. Moreover, boys' internalizing maladjustment was directly influenced by emotional resilience. While for girls, internalizing maladjustment was not directly influenced by emotional resilience.
Fifth, there were differences in the effects of daily stress and ego-resilience on externalizing maladjustment according to children's gender. Boys' externalizing maladjustment predicted by parent-related stress directly and indirectly whereas girls' internalizing maladjustment was predicted by parent-related stress directly. Also, boys' externalizing maladjustment was explained by friends-related stress directly and indirectly. On the other hand, girls' externalizing maladjustment was explained by friends-related stress indirectly.
Sixth, girl's internalizing and externalizing maladjustment were directly and indirectly predicted by home environment-related stress. Boy's internalizing and externalizing maladjustment was indirectly predicted by home environment-related stress. For boys and girls, internalizing and externalizing maladjustment was directly predicted by academic-related stress. For both gender, internalizing and externalizing maladjustment was directly and indirectly predicted by the vitality of ego-resilience. More especially, girls' internalizing maladjustment was notably predicted by the vitality of ego-resilience.
In conclusion, this study indicate that daily stress that consisted of parent-related stress, home environment-related stress, and friends-related stress has an effect on children's maladjustment internally and externally through the ego-resilience, even if it has a medium effect.