The Mediating Effects of Self-esteem and Empathy on Motivation for Parenthood and Definition of Parenthood

대학생의 부모됨의 동기와 부모됨의 의미 간의 자아존중감과 감정이입의 매개효과 검증

The purpose of this study was to test the mediating effects of self-esteem and empathy on university students' motivation for parenthood and their definition of parenthood. Participants were 1,492 students (male 581, female 898) from 19 universities throughout Korea. Results were: (1) The definition of parenthood was explained for motivation of parenthood (male $7{\sim}27%$, female $4{\sim}24%$) and empathy was explained for all the subfactors of motivation of parenthood except 'motivation for traditional norms' (male $4{\sim}16%$, female $2{\sim}13%$). Self-esteem was not explained as motivation of parenthood. (2) There was no mediating effect from self-esteem on motivation for parenthood or the definition of parenthood in any of the students. (3) There was a partial mediating effect of empathy on motivation of parenthood and the definition of parenthood. In male students, there were mediating effects in 'motivation for strengthening biological family ties', 'altruistic emotional motivation', and 'motivation for deepening marital bonds and perpetuating one's self'. In female students, there were mediating effects in 'motivation for strengthening biological family ties' and 'motivation for deepening marital bonds and perpetuating one's self'.