Skip to main content
Log in

Prosocial Parent-to-Peer Path Model for South Korean School-Aged Children

  • Published:
Child Indicators Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This study aims to examine a theoretical model of “prosocial parent-to-peer pathways” using nationally representative data of school-aged children in South Korea. The association between parent-child relationships and positive peer relationships (i.e., peer acceptance and friendships) was examined with a focus on the mediating roles of children’s prosocial orientation (i.e., empathy and altruism). Structural equation modeling was performed to analyze the 2013 South Korean subsample (grades 3 and 5; n = 4690) of the International Survey of Children’s Well-Being. The model fits the data adequately (χ2 = 3025.84 (df = 323, p < .001), CFI = .96, TLI = .94, RMSEA = .04, SRMR = .03) and explains 29.3% of variance in peer acceptance and 64.6% in friendship quality. The total effects of parent-child relationships on peer acceptance (β = .41, p < .01) and friendship quality (β = .52, p < .01) were positive, controlling for other individual and family characteristics. Children’s empathy and altruism were found to partially mediate the effects of parent-child relationships on peer acceptance (β = .11, p < .01) and friendship quality (β = .31, p < .01). Implications and limitations of the study will be discussed.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Ah, Y. A., & Jeong, W. C. (2007). Developmental pathways from parent’s risk factors to school violences. Korean Journal of Youth Studies, 14, 29–52.

    Google Scholar 

  • Batson, C. D., & Powell, A. A. (2003). Altruism and prosocial behavior. In T. Millon, M. J. Lerner, & I. B. Weiner (Eds.), Handbook of psychology (Vol. 5, pp. 463–484). Hoboken: Wiley.

    Google Scholar 

  • Batson, C. D., Ahmad, N., Lishner, D. A., & Tsang, J. (2002). Empathy and altruism. In C. R. Snyder & S. J. Lopez (Eds.), Handbook of positive psychology (pp. 485–498). New York: Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Belsky, J., & Fearon, R. P. (2002). Early attachment security, subsequent maternal sensitivity, and later child development: Does continuity in development depend upon continuity of caregiving? Attachment & Human Development, 4, 361–387.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bohlin, G., Hagekull, B., & Rydell, A. M. (2000). Attachment and social functioning: A longitudinal study from infancy to middle childhood. Social Development, 9, 24–39.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bowker, J. C. W., Rubin, K. H., Burgess, K. B., Booth-LaForce, C., & Rose-Krasnor, L. (2006). Behavioral characteristics associated with stable and fluid best friendship patterns in middle childhood. Merrill-Palmer Quarterly, 52, 671–693.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bugental, D. B., & Grusec, J. E. (2006). Socialization processes. In N. Eisenberg, W. Damon, & R. M. Lerner (Eds.), Handbook of child psychology (Vol. 3, 6th ed., pp. 366–428). Hoboken: John Wiley and Sons.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bukowski, W. M., & Hoza, B. (1989). Popularity and friendship: Issues in theory, measurement, and outcome. In T. J. Berndt & G. W. Ladd (Eds.), Peer relationships in child development (1st ed., pp. 15–45). New York: Wiley.

    Google Scholar 

  • Caprara, G. V., Alessandri, G., & Eisenberg, N. (2012). Prosociality: The contribution of traits, values, and self-efficacy beliefs. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 102, 1289–1303.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chen, X., Chun, G. J., & Hsiao, C. (2009). Peer interactions and relationships from a cross-cultural perspective. In K. H. Rubin, W. M. Bukowski, & B. Laursen (Eds.), Handbook of peer interactions, relationships, and groups (pp. 379–393). New York: The Guildford Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Choi, Y. S., & Park, U. I. (2015). Effects of parental attachment on peer relationships and mediating effects of elementary school students’ self-control ability. The Korean Society of Community Living Science, 26, 275–286.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Choi, M. S., Moon, S. H., Kim, C. G., & Lee, K. H. (2008). Parent-child relationships, children's gender, peer popularity and children's prosocial behavior. Korea Journal of Child Care and Education, 54, 99–118.

    Google Scholar 

  • Clark, K. E., & Ladd, G. W. (2000). Connectedness and autonomy support in parent–child relationships: Links to children's socioemotional orientation and peer relationships. Developmental Psychology, 36, 485–498.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Collins, N. L., & Feeney, B. C. (2000). A safe haven: An attachment theory perspective on support seeking and caregiving in intimate relationships. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 78, 1053–1073.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Côté, S., Kraus, M. W., Cheng, B. H., Oveis, C., Van der Löwe, I., Lian, H., & Keltner, D. (2011). Social power facilitates the effect of prosocial orientation on empathic accuracy. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 101, 217–232.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Crick, N. R. (1996). The role of overt aggression, relational aggression, and prosocial behavior in the prediction of children's future social adjustment. Child Development, 67, 2317–2327.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Edwards, R., Manstead, A., & Macdonald, C. J. (1984). The relationship between children's sociometric status and ability to recognize facial expressions of emotion. European Journal of Social Psychology, 14, 235–238.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Eisenberg, N. (2006). Introduction. In N. Eisenberg, W. Damon, & R. M. Lerner (Eds.), Handbook of child psychology (Vol. 3, 6th ed., pp. 1–23). Hoboken: Wiley.

    Google Scholar 

  • Eisenberg, N., Fabes, R. A., & Spinrad, T. L. (2006). Prosocial development. In N. Eisenberg, W. Damon, & R. M. Lerner (Eds.), Handbook of child psychology (Vol. 3, 6th ed., pp. 646–718). Hoboken: Wiley.

    Google Scholar 

  • Eisenberg, N., Huerta, S., & Edwards, A. (2012). Relation of empathy-related responding to children’s and adolescents’ social competence. In D. Decety (Ed.), Empathy: From bench to bedside (pp. 148–163). Cambridge: The MIT Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Eisenberg, N., Spinrad, T. L., & Knafo-Noam, A. (2015). Prosocial development. In M. E. Lamb & R. M. Lerner (Eds.), Handbook of child psychology and developmental science (Vol. 3, 7th ed., pp. 610–656). Hoboken: Wiley.

    Google Scholar 

  • England, M., & Sroufe, L. A. (1992). Predicting peer competence and peer relationships in childhood from early parent-child relationships. In R. D. Parke & G. W. Ladd (Eds.), Family-peer relationships: Modes of linkage (pp. 77–106). Mahwah: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gable, S. L., & Haidt, J. (2005). What (and why) is positive psychology? Review of General Psychology, 9(2), 103.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gifford-Smith, M. E., & Brownell, C. A. (2003). Childhood peer relationships: Social acceptance, friendships, and peer networks. Journal of School Psychology, 41, 235–284.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hair, J. F., Black, W. C., Babin, B. J., & Anderson, R. E. (2010). Multivariate data analysis (7th ed.). Upper Saddle River: Pearson.

    Google Scholar 

  • Han, E. (2005). Emotion regulation as a predictor of aggression and peer relationships in school-aged childre. Korean Journal of Child Studies, 26, 85–100.

    Google Scholar 

  • Han, E. (2014). Longitudinal study of violence of early adolescent. Journal of the Korean Society of Child Welfare, 48, 209–234.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hartup, W. W., & Laursen, B. (1999). Relationships as developmental contexts: Retrospective themes and contemporary issues. In W. A. Collins & B. Laursen (Eds.), Relationships as developmental contexts: The Minnesota symposia on child psychology (pp. 13–36). Mahwah: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hoffman, M. L. (2001). Empathy and moral development: Implications for caring and justice. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hong, S. H., & Park, H. J. (2013). Mediating effects of rejection sensitivity on the relationships between emotional abuse and victimization by peers. Korean Journal of Elementary Education, 24, 59–74.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Im, H. J., & Jin, M. K. (2014). The mediating effect of children’s empathic abilities on the relationships between children’s perceptions of parenting attitudes and peer relationships. Korean Journal of Play Therapy, 17, 419–438.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jang, M. H., & Lee, J. Y. (2011). Effects of mother attachment, rejection sensitivity, and emotional regulation on children’s peer relationships. Korean Journal of Play Therapy, 14, 35–53.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jeon, H. R., & Lee, J. Y. (2014). The effect of mother's psychological control on children's peer relationships: The mediator effect of rejection sensitivity and internalized shame. Korea Institute of Youth Facility and Environment, 12, 5–18.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jo, G. M. (2011). An exploratory study on children’s prosocial moral development. Korean Elementary Moral Education Society, 36, 205–229.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kim, K. H., & Ahn, Y. (2009). The effects of mother’s emotional stability and communication skills on the child’s peer competence. Journal of Parent Education, 1, 101–118.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kim, S. H., & Chung, O. B. (2011). Maternal overprotection, child emotion regulation and peer relationships: The mediating role of emotion regulation in children. The Korean Journal of Human Development, 18, 69–92.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kim, E. J., & Lee, J. (2009). A study on the relationship between parent attachment and peer relationship among adolescents : The mediating effects of depression and conflict-resolving strategies. The Korea Journal of Youth Counseling, 17(2), 55–68.

  • Kim, M. W., & Park, Y. S. (2012). The relationships between children’s perceived parental psychological control and friendship quality: Mediating effects of relational aggression. Journal of Emotional and Behavioral Disorders, 28, 171–190.

    Google Scholar 

  • Klohnen, E. C., & John, O. P. (1998). Working models of attachment: A theory-based prototype approach. In J. A. Simpson & W. S. Rholes (Eds.), Attachment theory and close relationships (pp. 115–140). New York: The Guilford Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Krevans, J., & Gibbs, J. C. (1996). Parents' use of inductive discipline: Relations to children's empathy and prosocial behavior. Child Development, 67, 3263–3277.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kuperminc, G. P., & Allen, J. P. (2001). Social orientation: Problem behavior and motivations toward interpersonal problem solving among high risk adolescents. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 30, 597–622.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kwon, J. E., & Jin, M. K. (2014). The mediating effects of emotional regulation ability on the relationships between mother-child communication style and peer relationships. Asian Journal of Child Welfare and Development, 12, 127–143.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ladd, G. W. (1999). Peer relationships and social competence during early and middle childhood. Annual Review of Psychology, 50, 333–359.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lee, H. J. (2015). The effects of children's assertiveness and empathy on peer relationships. Journal of Educational Studies, 46, 49–69.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lee, S. E., & Nahm, E. Y. (2011). Relations between parental empathy and children's peer relationship and emotion regulation. The Journal of the Korean Association of Psychotherapy, 3, 41–56.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lee, B. J., Kim, S. S., Ahn, J. J., Yoo, J. P., Yoo, M. S., Choi, C., ..., Koh, E. (2015). A report on Korean children's quality of life. Seoul: Save the Children Korea.

  • Lippman, L., Moore, K. A., Guzman, L., Ryberg, R., McIntosh, H., Ramos, M., et al. (2014). Flourishing children: Defining and testing indicators of positive development. New York: Springer.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Markiewicz, D., Doyle, A. B., & Brendgen, M. (2001). The quality of adolescents' friendships: Associations with mothers' interpersonal relationships, attachments to parents and friends, and prosocial behaviors. Journal of Adolescence, 24, 429–445.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mikulincer, M. E., & Shaver, P. R. (2010). Prosocial motives, emotions, and behavior: The best angels of our nature. Washington: American Psychological Association.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Mikulincer, M. E., Shaver, P. R., Gillath, O., & Nitzberg, R. A. (2005). Attachment, caregiving, and altruism: Boosting attachment security increases compassion and helping. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 89, 817–839.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nam, E., & Lee, E. (2014). The mediating role of emotion regulation in the relationship between children's percieved paternal and maternal parent's empathy levels and peer relationship and relation of teacher. Paper presented at the Annual Conference of the Korean Psychological Association.

  • Newcomb, A. F., Bukowski, W. M., & Bagwell, C. L. (1999). Knowing the sounds: Friendship as a developmental context. In W. A. Collins & B. Laursen (Eds.), Relationships as developmental contexts: The Minnesota symposia on child psychology (pp. 63–84). Mahwah: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.

    Google Scholar 

  • Oberle, E., Schonert-Reichl, K. A., & Thomson, K. C. (2010). Understanding the link between social and emotional well-being and peer relations in early adolescence: Gender-specific predictors of peer acceptance. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 39, 1330–1342.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • OECD. (2016). OECD.Stat (Average annual hours actually worked per worker). Retrieved December 18, 2017 from https://stats.oecd.org/Index.aspx?DataSetCode=ANHRS

  • Oh, J. H. (2015). The effect of mother’s reactions to children’s negative emotions on children’s peer relations: The mediating role of children’s empathy and emotional regulation types. Korean Journal of Child Studies, 36, 17–37.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Park, S. H. (2002). A study of the familial factors influencing the children's prosocial behavior. Korean Journal of Educational Research, 40, 51–74.

    Google Scholar 

  • Park, C. O., & Ghim, H. R. (2010). Sex and peer status differences in empathizing and systemizing: Data from Korean 6 graders. The Korean Journal of Developmental Psychology: Development, 23, 127–148.

    Google Scholar 

  • Park, S., & Jin, M. K. (2013). The mediating effects of rejection sensitivity in the relationships between parent attachment and loneliness in children. Korean Journal of Play Therapy, 16, 381–395.

    Google Scholar 

  • Putallaz, M., & Heflin, A. H. (1990). Parent-child interaction. In S. R. Asher & J. D. Coie (Eds.), Peer rejection in childhood (pp. 189–216). Cambridge: Camgridge University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rees, G., & Main, G. (2015). Children's views on their lives and well-being in 15 countries: An initial report on the Children's worlds survey 2013-14. York: Children's Worlds Project (ISCWeB).

    Google Scholar 

  • Rubin, Z., & Sloman, J. (1984). How parents influence their children's friendships. In M. Lewis (Ed.), Beyond the dyad (pp. 223–250). New York: Springer US.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Rubin, K. H., Bukowski, W. M., & Parker, J. G. (2006). Peer interactions, relationships, and groups. In N. Eisenberg, W. Damon, & R. M. Lerner (Eds.), Handbook of child psychology (Vol. 3, 6th ed., pp. 571–645). Hoboken: Wiley.

    Google Scholar 

  • Saarni, C., Campos, J. J., Camras, L. A., & Witherington, D. (2006). Emotional development: Action, communication, and understanding. In N. Eisenberg, W. Damon, & R. M. Lerner (Eds.), Handbook of child psychology (Vol. 3, 6th ed., pp. 226–299). Hoboken: Wiley.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schneider, B. H., Atkinson, L., & Tardif, C. (2001). Child–parent attachment and children's peer relations: A quantitative review. Developmental Psychology, 37, 86–100.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sharma, Y. (2013). Asia's parents suffering education fever. Retrieved December 18, 2017, from http://www.bbc.com/news/business-24537487

  • Sim, H. (2005). Cross-sectional and logitudinal relationships between aggression, prosocial behavior and peer relations. Korean Journal of Child Studies, 26, 121–134.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sim, B. S., & Ko, J. (2008). Parent-adolescent attachment and peer relations: The role of peer relational skills. The Journal of Human Studies, 22, 133–163.

    Google Scholar 

  • Son, H. S. (2000). Young children's social competence by the types of multiple-attachments to mothers and teachers. Journal of Infantile Education, 20(3), 85–97.

  • Sroufe, L. A., & Fleeson, J. (1986). Attachment and the construction of relationships. In W. W. Hartup & Z. Rubin (Eds.), Relationships and development (pp. 51–71). Mahwah: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.

    Google Scholar 

  • Thompson, R. A. (2006). The development of the person: Social understanding, relationships, conscience, self. In N. Eisenberg, W. Damon, & R. M. Lerner (Eds.), Handbook of child psychology (Vol. 3, 6th ed., pp. 24–98). Hoboken: Wiley.

    Google Scholar 

  • Thompson, R. A. (2015). Relationships, regulation, and early development. In M. E. Lamb & R. M. Lerner (Eds.), Handbook of child psychology and developmental science (Vol. 3, 7th ed., pp. 201–246). Hoboken: Wiley.

    Google Scholar 

  • Van Lieshout, C. F., Cillessen, A. H., & Haselager, G. J. (1999). Interpersonal support and individual development. In W. A. Collins & B. Laursen (Eds.), Relationships as developmental contexts. The Minnesota symposia on child psychology (pp. 37–60). Mahwah: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wilson, D. S., O'Brien, D. T., & Sesma, A. (2009). Human prosociality from an evolutionary perspective: Variation and correlations at a city-wide scale. Evolution and Human Behavior, 30, 190–200.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yoon, S. M., & Jin, M. K. (2015). The mediating effects of children’s empathy ability on the relationship between parental empathy as perceived by school-aged children and peer relationships. Asian Journal of Child Welfare and Development, 13(2), 55–77.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zahn-Waxler, C., & Smith, K. D. (1992). The development of prosocial behavior. In V. B. Van Hasselt & M. Hersen (Eds.), Handbook of Social Development (pp. 229-256). New York: Plenum Press.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang, G. F., & Kim, Y. (2014). Influence of parental child abuse on peer attachment among adolescents: Focused on mediating effects of self-esteem and aggression. Korean Journal of Public Policy, 31, 101–130.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhou, Q., Eisenberg, N., Losoya, S. H., Fabes, R. A., Reiser, M., Guthrie, I. K., … Shepard, S. A. (2002). The relations of parental warmth and positive expressiveness to children's empathy-related responding and social functioning: A longitudinal study. Child Development, 73, 893–915.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Juyeon Lee.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Lee, J. Prosocial Parent-to-Peer Path Model for South Korean School-Aged Children. Child Ind Res 11, 1867–1888 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12187-017-9522-3

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12187-017-9522-3

Keywords

Navigation