영아기 자녀를 둔 어머니의 자아존중감이 양육스트레스에 미치는 영향: 자녀가치의 매개효과를 중심으로

초록

This study aimed to empirically analyze the effects of mothers’ self-esteem on parenting stress, with the value of children as a mediating variable. Specifically, value of children’s value was categorized into emotional and instrumental, whereas the influences of these values on parenting stress were compared. Considerably, data from the first wave of the Korean Early Childhood Education and Care Panel Study (KECEPS) were used. Statistical analyses, such as descriptive statistics, the bootstrapping method, correlation, and hierarchical regression analyses were conducted using SPSS 28.0 to examine the mediating effects. The results indicated that mothers’ self-esteem had a direct negative effect on parenting stress, and indirectly influenced it through children’s value. Higher self-esteem in mothers was associated with emphasis on the emotional instrumental value, which was significantly related to reduced parenting stress. In contrast, the instrumental value was positively and negatively correlated with self-esteem and parenting stress, respectively. However, children’s instrumental value was positively related to parenting stress when tested for mediating effects. Mothers with higher self-esteem tended to perceive their children as having greater instrumental value; however, rather than alleviating parenting stress, this perception increased stress. This suggests that children’s high expectations may serve as a psychological burden on mothers. These results highlight the crucial role of mothers’ self-esteem in alleviating parenting stress and suggest that the type of child’s value perception can significantly influence stress.

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