The Effects of Maternal Grandmothers' Positive Parenting Behavior, Mothers' Emotion Regulation and Positive Parenting Behavior on Children's Emotion Regulation

Abstract

This study examined the effects of maternal grandmothers’ positive parenting behavior, mothers’ emotion regulation, and positive parenting behavior on children’s emotion regulation. A total of 348 mothers of fourth and fifth graders responded to questionnaires, which included items related to their mothers’ positive parenting behavior, their own emotion regulation and positive parenting behavior, and their children’s emotion regulation. The data were analyzed by means of correlations and Structural Equation Modeling (SEM). First, maternal grandmothers’ positive parenting behavior significantly affected mothers’ emotion regulation, but mothers’ emotion regulation did not directly affect their children’s emotion regulation. Second, maternal grandmothers’ positive parenting behavior had an effect on mothers’ positive parenting behavior, which led to a high level of their children’s emotion regulation. Lastly, maternal grandmothers’ positive parenting behavior indirectly influenced children’s emotion regulation through mothers’ emotion regulation and positive parenting behavior. This study emphasizes the intergenerational transmission of positive parenting, as well as a crucial influence of mothers’ positive parenting behavior on children’s emotion regulation.