Linking Shyness and Maternal Parenting Style during Preschool Years to Cooperativeness in Early Adulthood: Theory of Mind as a Mediator
AUTHOR : 하수정, 박성연
INFORMATION : page. 201~220 / 2014 Vol.21 No.1
ABSTRACT
This study aimed at exploring the paths through which shy temperament and maternal parenting style
during preschool years lead to cooperativeness via ToM in early adulthood. It was hypothesized that
shyness and maternal parenting style during preschool years may contribute to the development of later
cooperativeness by promoting ToM in early adulthood. Data were collected via a ToM task and
retrospective reports for the other variables from 466 university students (Mage = 21.94yrs.) recruited in
Seoul and its vicinities. The results revealed by structural equation modeling were as follows: 1) Shyness
and maternal parenting style during preschool years positively predicted ToM in early adulthood.
Specifically, shy temperament defined as inhibition from initiating interpersonal interaction and maternal
parenting style which was authoritative or elaborative upon mental states during conversation with her
child in early years promoted ToM development in later years; 2) Shyness and maternal parenting style in
preschool period indirectly influenced university student's cooperativeness through ToM whereas no direct
effect was found. These results suggest that shy temperament and maternal parenting style in preschool
years lead to university students' cooperativeness via ToM. The current study implies the importance of
ToM which links early temperament and maternal parenting with cooperativeness in early adulthood.