This study aims to analyze the structural relation between self-soothing and empathy in the relationship between receptive parenting attitudes perceived by adolescents and anger regulation and examine the differences in the structural relation between...
This study aims to analyze the structural relation between self-soothing and empathy in the relationship between receptive parenting attitudes perceived by adolescents and anger regulation and examine the differences in the structural relation between normal adolescents and at-risk youths.
This study targeted 332 adolescents(157 males and 175 females), who go to middle and high schools in Seoul and Gyeongbuk area and use youth counseling welfare centers and out-of-school support centers.
As a major analysis method, Structural Equation Model(SEM) analysis was conducted using the AMOS 21.0 program. For verifying the indirect effect of multiple mediating effect, Phantom Variables were used and for verifying the differences in the structural relation of variables between normal adolescents and at-risk youths, multi-group analysis was carried out.
The study findings are as follows.
First, receptive parenting attitudes had a significant positive correlation with self-soothing and empathy. Also, self-soothing had a positive correlation with empathy and empathy had a significant positive influence on anger regulation.
Second, there were differences of gender in receptive rearing attitudes of fathers, self-soothing and empathy. Receptive rearing attitudes of fathers and empathic ability were more perceived by female adolescents than male adolescents.
Third, there were youth group differences in receptive parenting attitudes, self-soothing and empathy. Receptive parenting attitudes and self-soothing were more perceived by normal adolescents than at-risk youths.
Fourth, empathic ability showed a full mediating effect in the relationship between receptive parenting attitudes and anger regulation, but self-soothing did not show a mediating effect in the relationship between receptive parenting attitudes and anger regulation.
Fifth, there was a significant dual mediating effect demonstrating that when receptive parenting attitudes increase, self-soothing and empathy improve and it influences anger regulation.
Lastly, multi-group analysis was carried out to analyze the differences in the structural relation between the adolescent groups. As a result, the receptive rearing attitude model of fathers showed no group differences, but the receptive rearing attitude model of mothers showed group differences in the self-soothing -> empathy path. This means that self-soothing is more important for at-risk youths than for normal adolescents.
The results of this study provide insight regarding specific psychological mechanisms in which receptive parenting attitudes influence anger regulation. Moreover, these imply that differentiated understanding and approach should be applied to each group, since parenting attitudes have a different influence on each youth group.