The purpose of this study is to examine factors that affect social competence of young children and to promote social competence development of the age group.
The study gathered data from 21 childcare teachers and 255 mothers of young children atten...
The purpose of this study is to examine factors that affect social competence of young children and to promote social competence development of the age group.
The study gathered data from 21 childcare teachers and 255 mothers of young children attending childcares in Incheon region; structured questionnaires were used for collecting data from the participants.
In order to explore temperament of young children, the current study used a research tool of Park Hye-won(2012), which revised EAS (Emotional, Activity, Sociability) temperament model of Buss and Plomin. In addition, a scale developed and validated through factor analysis by Kim Young-hee(1995) was also used; Kim's scale revised Children' Playfulness Scale of Barnett(1990). 'Social Competence: Kindergarten' scale was used in pursuance of measuring young children’s social competence. The scale was originally developed by Doh and Falbo, but in the study, Seo Yoo-jin(2005) scale is referred.
This study utilized T-test, ANOVA, Scheffé, Pearson correlation analysis, and hierarchical regression analysis as statistical analysis methods.
The findings are as followed:
First, playfulness and social competence varied by age and gender of young children. Boys outperformed their female counterparts in sub-factors of playfulness such as physical spontaneity and sense of humor. Age caused significant difference in all sub-factors including physical spontaneity, social spontaneity, cognitive spontaneity, manifest joy and sense of humor. Likewise, social competence of young children showed discrepancy in ability of interpersonal adjustment and social participation.
Second, the study examined correlations among social competence, temperament and playfulness. Interpersonal adjustment, a sub-variable of social competence, had positive correlation with activity and sociability, and negative correlation with shyness. Those variables are sub-variables all under temperament of young children. There was positive correlation between interpersonal adjustment and sub-variables of playfulness, such as physical spontaneity, social spontaneity, cognitive spontaneity, manifest joy and sense of humor. Popularity and leadership, a sub-variable of social competence, was positively correlated with physical spontaneity, social spontaneity, cognitive spontaneity, manifest joy and sense of humor, which are all sub-variables of playfulness. Positive correlation was shown between social participation, a sub-variable of social competence, and age. Social participation was also positively correlated with sub-variables of temperament such as activity and sociability, but negatively correlated with shyness. Lastly, positive correlation was shown between overall social competence and activity; social competence was negatively correlated with shyness but positively correlated with sub-variables of children’s playfulness, which are physical spontaneity, social spontaneity, cognitive spontaneity, manifest joy and sense of humor. cognitive spontaneity, which are sub-variables of playfulness, are Third, it is examined that sense of humor, physical spontaneity and cognitive spontaneity, which are sub-variables of playfulness, are variables that affect interpersonal adjustment, a sub-variable of social competence. Among sub-variables of social competence, activity, shyness, physical spontaneity, social spontaneity, and cognitive spontaneity have significant influence on popularity/leadership of young children. Furthermore, age, social spontaneity, and manifested joy are influential variables for social participation. Lastly, emotionality, shyness, physical spontaneity, cognitive spontaneity, and sense of humor are variables that have serious effects on overall social competence of young children.