유아의 의사소통능력과 사회적 능력의 관계에 대한 자기조절력의 매개효과

This study examined the association among preschooler’s communication ability, self-regulation, and social competence. Then it investigated the self-regulation in young children as a mediator of the relation between the communication ability and social competence. Two hundred and thirteen preschoolers aged from four to five years participated in the study. Twelve class teachers completed three kinds of questionnaires about social competence,self-regulation, and communication ability of each child. Data were analyzed by Pearson’s correlation and multiple regression analysis. The results of the study were as follows; First, preschooler’s communication ability,self-regulation, and social competence were positively correlated with one another. Second, preschooler’s communication ability and self-regulation had effective influence on social competence. And preschooler’s self-regulation partially mediated the effect of communication ability on social competence. That is, preschooler’s communication ability had a direct effect on social competence as well as an indirect effect through children’s self-regulation. The results imply that it is possible to influence on preschooler’s social competence development by supporting self-regulation as well as by sustaining preschooler’s communication ability. Therefore, the result of this study can be used as preliminary data to develop educational and counseling programs intended to enhance preschooler’s self-regulation and communication ability in positive ways for the purpose of developing children’s social competence.