Objective: This study investigated the relationships between preschoolers'
difficult temperament, resilience, problematic behaviors, and maternal parenting
stress. In addition, the research examined the moderating effects of resilience on
the relationships between maternal parenting stress, preschoolers’difficult
temperament and problematic behaviors
Methods: The participants were 200 four to six year olds attending kindergartens
and daycare centers in Seoul, Gyeonggi-do, or Gangwon-do. Mothers completed
the questionaries to measure children’s temperament, parenting stress, and
problem behaviors. Children’s resilience was assessed by teacher ratings.
Results: Significant correlations were found among maternal parenting stress,
preschoolers’ difficult temperament and problematic behaviors. Moreover,
resilience moderated the associations between difficult temperament and
problematic behaviors but it did not moderate the relation between maternal
parenting stress and problematic behaviors.
Conclusion/Implications: The results suggest that it is necessary to provide
comprehensive intervention to reduce maternal parenting stress and improve
preschoolers’resilience in order to prevent their problematic behaviors.