The Mediating Effect of Children’s Emotional Regulation Ability on the Relationship between Mother’s Ambivalence over Emotional Expressiveness and Peer Competence during Early childhood
AUTHOR : 박은아, 김연수
INFORMATION : page. 61~78 / 2022 Vol.29 No.1
ABSTRACT
The purpose of this study is to investigate the mediating effect of children’s emotional regulation between mothers’ emotional ambivalence over emotional expressiveness and peer competence during early childhood. A total of 315 mothers of preschoolers (3-5 years; 147 males, 168 females) completed questionnaires including ambivalence over emotional expressiveness (AEQ) and their children’s emotional regulation (ERC). Also, 24 teachers at childcare centers and kindergartens completed peer competence of preschoolers. Results of the study are as follows. First, mother’s ambivalence over emotional expressiveness was negatively correlated with chidlren’s emotional regulation. However, children’s emotional regulation was positively correlated with peer competence. Second, mothers’ ambivalence over emotional expressiveness had statistically significant effects both on emotional regulation and on peer competence of preschoolers. Also, children’s emotional regulation had a partial mediating effect. Mothers who experienced ambivalence over emotional expressiveness tended to be less affectionate and their children tended to have lower peer competence, suggesting that children’s emotional regulation mediates between mother’s ambivalence over emotional expressiveness and their children’s peer competence. Study implications and limitations are discussed.