The Mediating Role of Self-Regulation Skills in the Relationship between Social Skills and Problem Behaviors in Early Childhood Period

Abstract

The aim of this study is to examine the direct and indirect relationships between problem behaviors, social skills, and self-regulation skills of children in early childhood period. In this context, the mediating role of self-regulation skills between problem behavior and social skills was investigated. The relational research model, one of the quantitative research designs, was used in this study. The study group consisted of 104 children between the age of 66-72 months enrolled to any preschool program. The obtained data from the study were analyzed with the PROCESS macro and direct and indirect path coefficients in the regression models were subjected to the bootstrap analysis. As a result of the study, it was seen that the social skills and the self-regulation skills of children negatively predicted the problem behaviors. In addition, when the self-regulation skills were included in the model, it was concluded that the self-regulation skills were a partial mediator variable.