• Korean Journal of Child Studies
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.155-171
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• 2009

This study aimed to identify children's emotional variables (anxiety and emotional expressiveness) and parenting variables supporting emotional development (affection and concern for, respect, and trust of children) which influence somatic symptoms. Subjects were 311 6th grade children. Instruments were the Korean version of the State-Trait Anxiety for Children (Spielberger, 1973), Children's Somatization Inventory (Walker & Green, 1991), Emotional Expressiveness Questionnaire (King & Emmons, 1990), and the Parenting Behavior Test by the researcher. Analysis by t-test showed that children's anxiety influenced somatization. The children who perceived that both parents respect their thoughts, feelings and choices and that their fathers trust their behaviors and abilities showed low somatic symptoms. Supporting children's emotional development through good parenting practices was discussed.

• Korean Journal of Child Studies
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• v.30 no.6
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• pp.15-28
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• 2009

Parenting or parenting behaviors has been a key subject during the last three decades. Studies on the parenting mainly focused on either the associations between mothers' parenting and child outcomes or variables predicting parenting behaviors. Regarding child outcomes, social-emotional development of children has been more frequently studied than their cognitive development. Also, the characteristics of parents, children, and contextual environments have received attention in predicting mothers' parenting behaviors. Recently, there have been attempts in identifying the processes that are hypothesized to mediate or moderate the relationships between parenting and developmental outcomes. Furthermore, the studies using longitudinal data have been increased as well. For a future direction, the age-specific and culturally sensitive measures assessing Korean mothers' parenting behaviors are needed. Research efforts and policies should be directed toward supporting parents and their children from diverse backgrounds in the rapidly changing Korean society.