• The Korean Journal of Community Living Science
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.555-567
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• 2007

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'.

• Korean Journal of Child Studies
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.219-233
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• 2007

The purpose of this study was to investigate university students' motivation for parenthood related to their definition of parenthood, empathy and self-esteem. Participants were 447 junior and senior students(male 263, female 184) in 5 universities throughout Korea. Results were : (1) Male students and employed mothers were higher than female students and unemployed mothers' 'motivation for strengthening biological family ties' but there were reversed results in 'motivation for traditional norms.' Students majoring in home economics showed the highest score in 'altruistic-emotional motivation.' (2) There were positive correlations between motivation for parenthood and definition of parenthood and empathy. 'Motivation for traditional norms' correlated positively with self-esteem. (3) Motivations for parenthood were explained by about 4~28% by their definition of parenthood, empathy, and self-esteem.