• Korean Journal of Childcare and Education
• /
• v.18 no.2
• /
• pp.105-124
• /
• 2022

Objective: This study investigated the double mediating effects of maternal and paternal parenting stress and the regularity of children's daily routines in the association between maternal and paternal parenting time and children's self-regulation. Methods: A total of 235 preschool children aged 4-5 years and their mothers and fathers participated in the study. Parenting time, parenting stress, and children's self-regulation were assessed using both mothers' and fathers' reports, but the regularity of daily routines was assessed using mothers' reports only. The data was analyzed using SEM in Mplus 8.2. Results: Mothers' and fathers' parenting stress appeared to have cross-spousal mediated effects of their parenting time on children's self-regulation. Higher levels of mothers' and fathers' parenting time predicted higher levels of children's self-regulation through only a lower level of mothers' parenting stress and a higher level of the regularity of daily routines. Conclusion/Implications: Findings indicated that parents' parenting time played a significant protective factor in reducing parenting stress and increasing the regularity of daily routines among family members. This cross-spousal influence on parenting process can inform the development of prevention programs and parenting education to promote self-regulation skills among preschool children.