Korean J Child Stud. 2010; 31(6): 167-183.
The Relationship between Maternal Attitudes toward Children`s Expressiveness Children`s Emotional Intelligence and Problem Behaviors
어머니의 정시표현 수용태도 유아의 정서지능 및 문제행동간의 관계
김상원 , 도현심 , 조수정
Sang Won Kim , Hyun Sim Doh , Soo Jung Cho
ABSTRACT
This study examined the relationship between maternal attitudes toward children`s expressiveness, children`s emotional intelligence and problem behaviors. The question as to whether emotional intelligence mediated the relationship between maternal attitudes and problem behaviors was also explored. A sample of 307 preschool children were used as subjects. Mothers rated their levels of acceptance toward their children`s emotions, while teachers reported on the children`s emotional abilities and behavioral problems. The data were analyzed by means of regression analyses. Our results indicated that mothers` controlling attitudes were associated with low levels of worry-anxiety. Additionally, it was found that children with high emotional intelligence showed low levels of worry-anxiety, hostility-aggression, and hyperactivity-inattention. While multiple factors of emotional intelligence had differential impacts, the self-control factor was the most powerful predictor for all the problem behaviors. It was further found that a mother`s receptive attitude was related to higher levels of self-awareness in children. Instead of the significant mediating effect of emotional intelligence, it was revealed that emotional intelligence had greater effects upon problem behaviors than maternal attitudes toward children`s expressiveness.
Key words :
maternal attitudes toward children`s expressiveness, emotional intelligence, problem behaviors
