Kangyi Lee

Measuring Behavioral Regulation in Four Societies

The present study examined the psychometric properties of scores from a direct measure of behavioral regulation, the Head-Toes-Knees-Shoulders task (HTKS) with 3- to 6-year-old children in the United States, Taiwan, South Korea, and China. Specifically, we investigated (a) the nature and variability of HTKS scores, including relations to teacher-rated classroom behavioral regulation; and (b) relations between the HTKS and early mathematics, vocabulary, and literacy skills. Higher HTKS scores were significantly related to higher teacher ratings of classroom behavioral regulation in the United States and South Korea but not in Taiwan and China. Also, higher HTKS scores were significantly related to higher early mathematics, vocabulary, and literacy skills beyond the influence of demographic variables and teacher-rated classroom behavioral regulation. These initial findings suggest that HTKS scores may be interpreted as reflecting early behavioral regulation in these 4 societies and that behavioral regulation is important for early academic success in the United States and in Asian countries.

Korean Adolescents` Physical Health and Peer Relationships : The Mediating Effects of Self-perceived Health Status and Resilience

The purpose of this study was (1) to examine the impact of chronic diseases on adolescent`s peer relationships, and (2) to investigate the mediating effect of self-perceived health status and resilience on the relationship between their physical health states and peer relationships. The authors used the first-wave panel data from `the Korean Children-Youth Panel Survey`. The sample included 2,351 first-grade of middle school students(boys 50.1%, girls 49.9%). Among the subjects examined 48.11% had chronic diseases. Using maximum likelihood estimation with Amos18(Arbuckle, 2009), SEM software, structural equation modeling was tested. The major findings were as follows : 1. Adolescents` chronic diseases had a negative impact on peer relationships. 2. Self-perceived health status and resilience had a mediating effect. This suggests that self-perceived health status and resilience could be protective factors when it comes to perceive peer relationships more positively for adolescents with chronic diseases. 3. Resilience was directly affected by self-perceived health status. This indicates that positive self-perception about their health status encourages adolescents with chronic diseases to be more resilient and to more positively affect their perception of their relationships with peers.

The Effects of Acculturation of Children and Parents from Multicultural Families on the Self-Esteem of Children in Rural Areas

This study was conducted with the aim of examining the acculturation process of children and parents from multicultural families, which can affect the self-esteem of the children concerned. The participants from each family consisted of the fathers, mothers, and school-age children of 179 households. The results of this study reveal the following: (1) First, the multicultural children scored higher than the average in self-esteem in most areas except school life. Furthermore, the children and parents had a comparatively positive attitude toward acculturation (2) Second, the children’s level of self-esteem had significant correlations only with the acculturation of mothers as opposed to fathers. (3) Third, the impacts of acculturation of the children and their parents on the children’s self-esteem followed different patterns according to the sub-areas of self-esteem. Specifically, the self-esteem for overall self-value and family relations rose when the Korean J. of Child Studies Vol. 35, No. 6, 47-64, December 2014 DOI:dx.org/10.5723/KJCS.2014.35.6.47 www.childkorea.or.kr pISSN1226-1688 eISSN2234-408X 2 Korean J. of Child Studies Vol. 35, No. 6, 2014 48 multicultural acceptance attitude of mothers was high. However, area of peer relations was affected only by the acculturation of children. The area concerning school life was high when the mother-culture propagation attitude of mothers was low.

Children`s Awareness of Racial Features, Racial In-Group Classification and Racial Preference According to Visual and Language Features

The purpose of this study was to examine the awareness of racial features, racial in-group classification and preference by Korean children. The study participants comprised 89 children aged 3-5 years. The children performed photograph description and choice tasks. The major findings were as follows: First, older children were significantly more likely than younger children to use racial feature and less likely to use general physical feature to describe the stimuli. Second, children tended to select the South-Asian person speaking in Korean language as a Korean, rather than the Korean person speaking in English. Third, children tended to select the person of Korean appearance speaking in English as a playmate. The result revealed the developmental features of racial awareness. Furthermore the correspondence of language plays an important role on the children’s in-group classification whereas the correspondence of appearance plays an important role on the children’s preference. Korean J. of Child Studies Vol. 35, No. 2, 85-102, April 2014 DOI:dx.org/10.5723/KJCS.2014.35.2.85 www.childkorea.or.kr pISSN1226-1688 eISSN2234-408X 2 Korean J. of Child Studies Vol. 35, No. 2, 2014 86