The Relationship between Social Competence and Interpersonal Problem-solving Strategies in Middle Childhood

아동의 대인간 문제 해결력과 사회적 능력과의 관계

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the relationship between social cognition (interpersonal problem-solving ability) and social competence. Subjects were 142 male and 148 female fifth graders randomly selected from two elementary schools located in Seoul and their fathers. The children and fathers were administered the Means-Ends Interpersonal Problem-Solving (MEPS) test and the Social Competence Scales based on Choi's inventory(1992). The results indicated significant positive correlations between two subvariables (capability and leadership) of social competence and MEPS. Girls showed significantly higher MEPS scores than boys in the variables of overall problem solving, effective problem solving, and dependent strategy.