The Mediating Effects of Ego-Resilience on Achievement-Oriented Parenting Style, School Adjustment and Academic Achievement as Perceived by Children

Abstract

This study examined the relationships among children’s perspectives on achievement-oriented parenting style, ego-resilience, school adjustment, and academic achievement. In order to analyze the associations, the study conducted a secondary analysis of the data found in the Korean Children and Youth Panel Survey (KCYPS) 2010-2011, which was a non-randomized controlled study designed with a longitudinal follow-up. We analyzed 1,212 students who were in the fourth and fifth grade at elementary school with Structural Equation Modeling (SEM). The results were as follows. First, higher achievement-oriented parenting style was associated with higher ego-resilience that contributed to higher academic achievement and higher school adjustment. Second, higher achievement-oriented parenting style was directly related to lower academic achievement and lower school adjustment. The findings support that children’s ego-resilience is an important factor to improve school adjustment and academic achievement. In addition, the achievement-oriented parenting style is not helpful for their children’s school outcomes (such as academic achievement and adjustment) even though parenting style improved their children’s ego-resilience. Ego-resilience that is developed by achievement-oriented parenting style is likely to enhance children’s school adjustment and academic achievement. The study presents policy and practice implications, limitations and areas for further research. Keywords: achievement-oriented parenting style, ego-resilience, school adjustment, academic achievement