The Effects of Parental Socioeconomic Status on Preschoolers’ Social Competence and Cognitive Development：The Role of Parental Warmth and Home Learning Environment

Abstract

This study was aimed at examining the paths through which family socioeconomic status as indicated by family income and parental education influenced preschool-aged children's socioemotional and cognitive development through the mediating role of parental warmth and the home learning environment. The study made use of data from 1,080 families who participated in the 5th wave of the Panel Study on Korean Children, when their children were approximately 4 years of age. Structural equation modeling analysis revealed that the models, including both parental warmth and the home learning environment did not fit the data well. The effects of warmth on social competence and cognitive development were not statistically significant. The modified models, using the home learning environment as a mediator between family SES and child's developmental outcomes showed that higher level of family income and parental education predicted a more cognitively stimulating home environment, which in turn, predicted a child's greater levels of social competence and positive cognitive development. The social competence of preschool-aged children again significantly predicted their cognitive development. The mediating effects of the home learning environment were statistically supported.