Korean Journal of Child Studies (아동학회지)

Korean Association of Child Studies (한국아동학회)
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The Influences of Parental Attachment on Social Competence of School-Aged Children : The Mediating Role of Empathy

부모에 대한 애착이 학령기 아동의 사회적 능력에 미치는 영향 : 공감 능력의 매개적 역할

  • Kim, Jung-Eun (Department of Child Development, Ewha Womans University) ;
  • Doh, Hyun-Sim (Department of Child Development, Ewha Womans University) ;
  • Kim, Min-Jung (Department of Child Development, Ewha Womans University) ;
  • Kim, Jae-Hee (Department of Child Development, Ewha Womans University)
  • 김정은 (이화여자대학교 아동학과) ;
  • 도현심 (이화여자대학교 아동학과) ;
  • 김민정 (이화여자대학교 아동학과) ;
  • 김재희 (이화여자대학교 아동학과)
  • Received : 2013.02.28
  • Accepted : 2013.06.13
  • Published : 2013.06.30
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Abstract

The effects of parental attachment and empathy on social competence were examined with a sample of 403 fifth and sixth graders (192 males, 211 females) attending elementary schools in Gyoung-gi province. All research variables were measured using self-reported questionnaires conducted by the children concerned. Data were analyzed by means of structural equation modeling. The results indicated that parental attachment had no direct effect, but there was an indirect effect on children's social competence mediated by children's empathy. Maternal attachment influenced children's social competence relatively more than paternal attachment. As compared to parental attachment, however, children's empathy was the more influential variable when it came to social competence. These results were consistent in both genders. The results of this study emphasize that children's own characteristics such as empathy tend to be important factors in developing social competence compared to the parental role in middle childhood. Accordingly, interventions aimed at improving children's empathy need to be emphasized in order to develop children's social competence regardless of gender.

Keywords

References

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