Structural Equation Modeling of the Interaction between Mothers and Preschool-Age Children

ABSTRACT

Purpose@#This study aimed to identify the factors influencing the interaction between mothers and preschool-age children and construct a structural equation model based on the factors identified. @*Methods@#The data were collected from the mothers of children aged three to six years enrolled in kindergartens in Seoul, Gyeonggi, Chungbuk, and Jeonbuk. A total of 328 questionnaires were used for the analysis. Analysis was performed using SPSS 26.0 and AMOS 26.0 programs. @*Results@#The child’s self-regulation (β = .42, p < .001) had the most significant influence on the interaction between mothers and preschool children, followed by the mother’s parenting stress (β = - .23, p = .008), social support (β = .17, p < .001), and the child’s active temperament (β = .15, p < .001). The child’s gender, emotional temperament, social temperament, and mother’s education level had indirect influences. @*Conclusion@#These results suggest that interventions considering the child’s temperament, mother’s parenting stress, and social support are required to promote the interaction between preschool-age children and mothers.