Influence of Children's Perception of Interparental Conflict and Peer Relationship on Children's Self Competence: Comparison of Children from Multicultural Families and Korean Families

The purpose of this study was to investigate the difference in self competence between children from multicultural families and children from Korean families, and to study how interparental conflict and peer relationship influence the self competence of children. The subjects of the present study were 138 children of multicultural families and 254 children of Korean families in the 3rd or 4th grade in Seoul, Daegu, Gyeong-gi province, and Gyeong-buk province. The instruments of measurement were the Children's Perception of Interparental Conflict, Friendship and the Perceived Competence Scale for Children. Date were analyzed by independent samples T-test, MANCOVA, ANCOVA and multiple regression using the SPSS program. The results showed there was significant difference in the self competence of children between those from multicultural families and those from Korean families, but there was no significant difference when income was controlled. Second, for children of multicultural families, gender, income, and the intensity of interparental conflict had significant influence on self competence while gender, aid, conflict, and disclosure of negative affect in friendship, and being a peacemaker in interparental conflict influenced self competence significantly in the case of children of Korean families.