The Relationship between Child Values and Happiness of Early Childhood Parents: Actor Effect and Partner Effect

Abstract

Purpose: This study examined the relationship between child value and happiness among parents of infants and toddlers in the 6th and 7th waves of the Korean Child Panel Survey. 
 Method: We conducted an analysis of self and other interdependence model(APIM) to test the self-effect and partner-effect of parents of infants and toddlers.
 Results: The results of the self-effect and partner-effect tests of mothers' and fathers' perceived parental child value on happiness showed that mothers' and fathers' perceived child value had a significant positive effect on their own happiness. In addition, the interaction effect of mothers' and fathers' perceived child value on happiness was significant only for the negative effect of fathers' perceived child value on mothers' happiness. We also found significant differences in the self-effect and partner-effect of parental values on happiness, with mothers' happiness being influenced more by their own parental values than by their fathers' parental values.
 Conclusion: The significance of this study is that it verified the effect of parents' child value on their own happiness, which has been lacking in the literature. Therefore, this study provides implications for the establishment of government childcare policies to improve the happiness of parents of infants and toddlers and for parent education in early childhood education institutions, and provides a basis for future research and programs to improve the happiness of parents of infants and toddlers.