유아의 친사회적 행동 및 공격적 행동 수준에 따른 타인에 대한 배려 및 정서조절능력의 차이

Young children’s caring behaviors and emotional regulation depending on the degree of prosocial and aggressive behaviors perceived by peers

This study investigated differences in caring behaviors and emotional regulation of young children depending on the degree of their pro-sociality and aggression perceived by the peers. A total of 219 children at age 4 and 5 years attending to day care centers participated in the study. Through the interviews with the children, they assessed which peers in same classes present pro-sociality and aggression to others. Based on the results of the interviews, the children were classified into 4 groups depending on the degree of their pro-sociality or aggression toward the peers. Also their teachers rated each child’s caring behaviors and emotional regulation. To identify the differences in caring behaviors and emotional regulation among the 4 groups χ2, One-way ANOVA and post-hoc analyses were administered using SPSS PC+ program. The study results were as follows. First, more boys were perceived by their peers as presenting aggressive behaviors in classrooms than girls. Second, the two highest groups in their pro-sociality scored significantly higher than the other two groups in their caring behaviors. Third, the one highest group in their aggression scored significantly lower than the other three groups in their caring behaviors and emotional regulation. Through the results of the study, we might have implication to increase prosocial behaviors and decrease aggressive behaviors of young children to others through providing educational activities to promote their caring behaviors and emotional regulation.