Effect of Mother’s Social Competence on Care Difficulties during COVID-19: Examining the Sequential Mediating Effects of Mother’s Sense of School-Based Community and Satisfaction with Online Learning

Abstract

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of mother’s social competence on the care difficulties during COVID-19 through sequential mediating effects of mother’s sense of schoolbased community and satisfaction with online learning.Methods: Data were collected from 308 mothers of 4th grade elementary school children who participated in the 4th wave of Panel Study on Korean Parent Educational Involvement [PSKPEI] in 2020. Structural equation modeling analysis was conducted using STATA 17.Results: There were no direct effects of mother’s social competence on the difficulties of caring during the COVID-19. However, mother’s social competence had an indirect effect on the difficulties of caring during the COVID-19 through the sequential mediation of the mother's sense of school-based community and satisfaction with online-learning.Conclusion: This study confirmed the importance of a family-school partnership during COVID-19. To support mothers’ caring during COVID-19, it is necessary to consider indirect factors such as family-school partnership rather than just the direct influence of individual factors such as social competence. This suggests that efforts should be made to establish a cooperative relationship between family and schools to help parents adapt to their role as caregivers in an ever-changing society as well as the current pandemic.