Children′s Motive and Competence for Emotional Regulation and Behavior Problems

Original Article

Journal of the Korean Home Economics Association 2004;42(3):65-77.

한유진

명지대학교 아동학과

ABSTRACT

This study investigated emotional regulation, motive for emotional regulation and behavior problems of children. 64 boys and 58 girls in fourth grade and their mothers were selected for the subject. The children were interviewed about eight interpersonal conflict situations, while their mothers completed the CBCL(Child Behavior Check List). Major findings were as follows: emotional regulation, motive for emotional regulation and behavior problems differed according to the children's gender. Girls used more appropriate display rules for managing negative emotions, and more often, prosocial motives than boys. While girls displayed greater immature behavior, boys displayed more hyperactive and aggressive behavior. Negative emotional regulation was the most predictable variable for boy's behavior problems. Positive emotional regulation and prosocial motives were significant variables predicting girl's behavior problems. These findings implicate that emotional regulation and motive for emotional regulation are important factors in preventing behavior problems of school-age children.