Human Ecology Research

The Korean Home Economics Association (대한가정학회)
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The Structural Relationships among Maternal Reflective Function, Preschoolers' Empathy, Executive Functions, and Caring Behaviors

어머니의 반영기능과 유아의 공감능력, 실행기능, 배려행동 간의 구조적 관계

  • Lee, Yoonjeong (Ulsan Woman & Family Development Institute) ;
  • Lim, Jiyoung (Major in Child & Family Studies, School of Child Studies, Kyungpook National University) ;
  • An, Sunjung (Gyeongbuk Women's Policy Development Institute)
  • 이윤정 (울산여성가족개발원) ;
  • 임지영 (경북대학교 아동가족학전공/경북대학교 장수생활과학연구소) ;
  • 안선정 (경북여성정책개발원)
  • Received : 2021.03.03
  • Accepted : 2022.03.20
  • Published : 2022.05.30
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Abstract

The purpose of this study was to explore the relationships among mothers' reflective function, preschoolers' empathy, executive function, caring behaviors. Subjects for this study were 498 preschoolers and their mothers. Mothers' reflective function was assessed by the Parental Reflective Functioning Questionnaire(PRFQ). Preschoolers' empathy was assessed by the Questionnaire of Cognitive and Affective Empathy(QCAE). Preschoolers' executive function was assessed by the Behavioral Rating Inventory of Executive Functions-Preschool Version(BRIEF-P), and caring behaviors were assessed by the caring behaviors scale(Kim, 2015). Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, confirmatory factor analysis(CFA), and structural equation model(SEM) with the SPSS 25.0 and AMOS 23.0 program. The major results of this study were as follows. First, mothers' reflective function showed direct effects on preschoolers' empathy, executive function, and caring behaviors. Second, the preschoolers' empathy and executive function showed direct effects on preschoolers' caring behaviors. Third, preschoolers' empathy mediated the effects of mothers' reflective function on preschoolers' caring behaviors. The findings of this study will contribute to designing intervention programs to improve preschoolers' empathy, executive function, and caring behaviors.

Keywords

References

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