Abstract
Background
Parental bonding has been recognized as a significant antecedent of children’s problem-focused coping. However, research on the potential mechanism behind this relationship is still lacking. The objective of the present study was to examine children’s anxiety as the potential mechanism for the effect of parental care on children’s problem-focused coping.
Hypotheses/Research Questions
It was hypothesized that children’s anxiety would mediate the relationship between parental care and children’s problem-focused coping.
Sample Characteristics and Sample Size
Three hundred and forty-one children aged from 9 to 15 years (Mage = 12.133, SD = 1.296) were asked to fill in measures of parental care, anxiety, and problem-focused coping.
Design
A cross-sectional survey design was used.
Results
Results showed that parental care was positively associated with children’s problem-focused coping when controlling for children’s gender and age. A bootstrap mediation analysis further indicated a significant negative indirect effect from parental care on children’s problem-focused coping through children’s anxiety.
Scientific Contribution
These findings demonstrate that children’s anxiety partly explains the relationship between parental care and children’s problem-focused coping, highlighting the importance of children’s anxiety in eliciting children’s problem-focused coping response. Longitudinal studies are required to further support the significant role of children’s anxiety in the parent-child interaction.
Parental bonding has been recognized as a significant antecedent of children’s problem-focused coping. However, research on the potential mechanism behind this relationship is still lacking. The objective of the present study was to examine children’s anxiety as the potential mechanism for the effect of parental care on children’s problem-focused coping.
Hypotheses/Research Questions
It was hypothesized that children’s anxiety would mediate the relationship between parental care and children’s problem-focused coping.
Sample Characteristics and Sample Size
Three hundred and forty-one children aged from 9 to 15 years (Mage = 12.133, SD = 1.296) were asked to fill in measures of parental care, anxiety, and problem-focused coping.
Design
A cross-sectional survey design was used.
Results
Results showed that parental care was positively associated with children’s problem-focused coping when controlling for children’s gender and age. A bootstrap mediation analysis further indicated a significant negative indirect effect from parental care on children’s problem-focused coping through children’s anxiety.
Scientific Contribution
These findings demonstrate that children’s anxiety partly explains the relationship between parental care and children’s problem-focused coping, highlighting the importance of children’s anxiety in eliciting children’s problem-focused coping response. Longitudinal studies are required to further support the significant role of children’s anxiety in the parent-child interaction.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Publication status | Published - 15 Jul 2021 |
| Event | The 7th International Positive Psychology Association World Congress: Wellbeing for All - Virtual, Online Duration: 15 Jul 2021 → 17 Jul 2021 https://www.ippaworldcongress.org/about-worldcongress |
Conference
| Conference | The 7th International Positive Psychology Association World Congress |
|---|---|
| Abbreviated title | 7th IPPA World Congress |
| Period | 15/07/21 → 17/07/21 |
| Internet address |
Keywords
- coping and emotion regulation
- Family
- Parenting
