Longitudinal Effects of Effortful Control on Depression and Aggression in School Age Children: Mediating Effects of Social Skills and Coping Strategies for Stress and Gender Differences
AUTHOR : 김재희,김현경
INFORMATION : page. 37~56 / 2017 Vol.24 No.3
ABSTRACT
The present study examined the extent to which children's effortful control influenced their depression and
aggressive behaviors two years later, focusing on mediating effects of children's social skills and negative
stress coping strategies. Additionally, potential gender differences in these mediating paths were examined.
A community sample of children 397(213 girls) and their parents participated in the study at fourth grade
(Time 1, M = 10.43 years) and was followed at 6th grade(Time 2, M = 12.38 years). Data were
analyzed using Structural Equation Modeling(SEM) in Mplus 7.4. Findings indicated that children's effortful
control significantly predicted their positive social skills, which in turn led to lower levels of depression
and aggressive behaviors two years later. In addition, children's lower levels of effortful control predicted
their negative stress coping strategies, which subsequently led to higher levels of depression and aggressive
behaviors. It was also found that there were significant gender differences; boys' lower levels of effortful
control and higher levels of negative stress coping strategies were directly associated with aggressive
behaviors and indirectly associated with depression through social skills deficits. On the other hand, direct
effects of effortful control on depression and aggressive behaviors were not significant for girls. Instead,
their social skills directly predicted depression and aggressive behaviors. Further, girls' lower levels of
effortful control were significantly predictive of aggressive behaviors medicated through high levels of
negative stress coping strategies. These findings can inform efforts to develop gender specific prevention
and intervention programs to prevent problem behaviors in school age children.