유아의 수줍음과 교사-유아 관계 간의 관계에 대한 유아 언어능력의 조절효과

The Moderating Effect of Children’s Verbal Ability in the Relation Between a Child’s Shyness and Teacher-Child Relationships in Kindergarten

Objective: The purpose of the present study was to explore the moderating role of children’s verbal ability in the relation between shyness and teacher-child relationships. Methods: Participants were 200 children, their mothers, and their kindergarten teachers. Children’s shyness was rated by their mothers and teachers, and children’s verbal ability was measured using the language problem solving ability test. And teachers completed a rating scale in order to examine the teacher-child relationship. The collected data were analyzed using correlations and hierarchical multiple regressions. Results: Children’s shyness had a negative relation to close teacher-child relationships. And child’s verbal ability was significantly related to teacher-child relationships. Hierachical regression analysis indicted to the interaction of child’s shyness and verbal ability predicted close teacher-child relationships. Children’s shyness, those who demonstrated the lowest level of child’s verbal ability, was significantly associated with close teacher-child relationships. Children’s shyness had no significant relation to close teacher-child relationships, especially for the highest level of children’s verbal ability. Conclusion/Implications: We suggested that verbal ability training for children might be valuable for shy children in order to buffer the link between shyness and teacher-child relationships.