Effects of Maternal Sociodemographic Characteristics and Parenting Stress on a Child's Self-Concept: Parenting Style as a Mediating Factor

어머니의 인구사회학적 특성과 양육스트레스가 자녀의 자아개념에 미치는 영향 : 양육 태도의 매개적 역할을 고려하여

  • Published : 2008.06.30

Abstract

Objectives : The aim of this study was to examine the effects of maternal sociodemographic characteristics, especially education and employment, and parenting stress on the child's self-concept. Attention was also paid to the mediating impact of parenting style on the relationship between the maternal variables and a child's self-concept. Methods : A questionnaire and three scales were completed by fifth graders and their mothers, and 270 sets of paired data were analyzed. Results : The results showed that mothers with higher education experienced less child-related parenting stress, were perceived to be more achievement-oriented and rational by their children, and also had children with more positive self-concept. The relationship between maternal education and child's self-concept was mediated by the rationality dimension of parenting style. Maternal employment was not related to parenting stress, parenting style and most aspects of the child's self-concept. Lastly, child-related parenting stress had a negative effect on the child's self-concept, and this effect was mediated by the warmth and rationality dimensions of parenting style. Conclusion : Parenting style had a mediating effect on the relationships between the child's self-concept and maternal education and child-related parenting stress.

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