Effects of Maternal Sociodemographic Characteristics and Parenting Stress on a Child's Self-Concept: Parenting Style as a Mediating Factor

Chung, Soojin; Choi, Jeongyoon

Abstract

OBJECTIVES
The aim of this study was to examine the effects of maternal sociodemographic characteristics, especially education and employment, and parenting stress on the child's self-concept. Attention was also paid to the mediating impact of parenting style on the relationship between the maternal variables and a child's self-concept.
METHODS
A questionnaire and three scales were completed by fifth graders and their mothers, and 270 sets of paired data were analyzed.
RESULTS
The results showed that mothers with higher education experienced less child-related parenting stress, were perceived to be more achievement-oriented and rational by their children, and also had children with more positive selfconcept. The relationship between maternal education and child's self-concept was mediated by the rationality dimension of parenting style. Maternal employment was not related to parenting stress, parenting style and most aspects of the child's self-concept. Lastly, child-related parenting stress had a negative effect on the child's self-concept, and this effect was mediated by the warmth and rationality dimensions of parenting style.
CONCLUSION
Parenting style had a mediating effect on the relationships between the child's self-concept and maternal education and child-related parenting stress.