Short-Term Longitudinal Relationships Among Maternal Parenting Efficacy, Mother-Child Interaction, and Children’s Problem Behaviors During the Transition From Kindergarten to Elementary School: The Moderated Mediation Effect of Paternal Parenting Efficacy

Key Points

• The study aims to explore the short-term effects of maternal parenting efficacy on mother-child interaction and children's behaviors during the transition from kindergarten to elementary school, considering paternal efficacy.
• Analyzed data from 1,393 mother-child pairs from the 2014 and 2015 Korean Child Panel.
• Used Hayes' repeated measures design Model 1, 4, 7 for analysis.
• Higher maternal parenting efficacy correlated with better mother-child interaction and lower externalizing and internalizing problems in first graders.
• Maternal efficacy influences externalizing behaviors via mother-child interaction but does not affect internalizing behaviors.
• Father parenting efficacy moderates the positive effects of maternal efficacy on mother-child interaction, enhancing the impact on externalizing behaviors.

Abstract