부모의 공감능력과 유아의 공감능력, 배려행동, 행복감 간의 구조적 관계

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the differences in preschoolers’ cognitive and affective empathy based on socio-demographic variables and to explore the relationships among parents’ empathy, preschoolers’ empathy, caring behaviors, and happiness. Subjects for this study were 301 preschoolers and their parents. Parents’ e mpathy was assessed by the Korean Version of Questionnaire of Cognitive and Affective Empathy(K-QCAE). Preschoolers’ empathy was assessed by the Questionnaire of Cognitive and Affective Empathy(QCAE). Preschoolers’ caring behaviors were assessed by the caring behaviors scale(Kim, 2015), and happiness was assessed by the happiness scale(Lee, 2010). Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, confirmatory factor analysis(CFA), and structural equation model(SEM) with the SPSS 25.0 and AMOS 23.0 program. <BR> The major results of this study were as follows. First, fathers’ empathy showed direct effects on preschoolers’ cognitive and affective empathy and happiness. And mothers’ empathy showed direct effects on preschoolers’ cognitive and affective empathy. Second, preschoolers’ cognitive empathy showed direct effects on preschoolers’ caring behaviors. And preschoolers’ caring behaviors showed direct effects on preschoolers’ happiness. Third, preschoolers’ cognitive empathy mediated the effects of parents’ empathy on preschoolers’ caring behaviors. And preschoolers’ caring behaviors mediated the effects of preschoolers’ cognitive empathy on preschoolers’ happiness. The findings of this study will contribute to designing intervention programs to improve preschoolers’ cognitive and affective empathy.