Abstract

This study was devised to compare low income with middle class families for their effects on the emotional and behavioural problems of Korean preschool children. Five hundred and nine children were assessed by teachers using the Preschool Behaviour Checklist (PBCL). Children from low income families showed more problems than those from middle class families. Based on this result, parenting styles were considered as mediating variables for the preschool children's problems. Parenting styles were assessed by the Parental Acceptance-Rejection Questionnaire (PARQ). The results showed that the difference in preschool children's emotional and behavioural problems was due to differences in parenting styles, which were attributable to the two family classes. Parents from low income families showed more rejecting parenting styles that is, they showed less warmth/affection and more neglect/indifference in their parenting styles. Family class had an influence on preschool children's emotional and behavioural problems directly as well as on parenting style which in turn influenced preschool children's emotional and behavioural problems.