The Effects of Parental Attachment Representations and Parenting Behavior on Young Children’s Self-Regulation

Abstract

Objective The purpose of this research was to examine the effects of parents' childhood attachment representations and parenting behavior in developing early childhood self-regulation, a developmental skill. Methods This research was conducted with 171 preschoolers, 171 parent couples, and 22 teachers of 5-year-old classes in kindergartens and children's houses in Seoul. Results First, there was significant correlation among parental childhood attachment representations, parenting behavior, and child self-regulation. Second, parental attachment representations and parenting behavior were shown to affect self-monitoring, a subvariable of self-regulation, and were influenced by maternal independence-oriented parenting behavior, maternal attachment representation, and parental attachment representation. As factors affecting self-control, a subvariable of self-regulation, they were influenced by maternal attachment representation, and maternal and paternal affectionate parenting behavior. Lastly, as factors affecting self-control, they were influenced by attachment representation to parents of origin, maternal affectionate parenting behavior, and maternal independence-oriented parenting behavior. Conclusion This research revealed that parental childhood attachment representations and parenting behavior are important variables affecting the development of self-regulation in preschoolers. This finding can be used as basic data for parent education content to help preschoolers grow healthier and happier and as basic data for a program to improve parent-child attachment. Keywords: attachment representation, parenting behavior, self-regulation