The purpose of this study is to analyze the difference in young children's self-directed learning
according to the types of mother's rearing attitude and communication between mother and child.
For this study, 196 children at the age of 4, 5 were selected, as well as 196 mothers of the
children. In regards to their gender, 112 children were boys, 84 children were girls, and 99
children were age 4 and 97 children were age 5.
The main conclusions found in this study are as follow.
First, there is a high positive correlation between young children's self-directed learning and
parents' affectionate rearing attitude and there is a high negative correlation between young
children's self-directed learning and rejective rearing attitude. However, there is no correlation
between young children's self-directed learning and autonomous rearing attitude and controlling
rearing attitude.
Second, positive communication between parents and children is related to young children's
self-directed learning, especially their self-concept and intrinsic motivation.
Third, explanatory power of rearing attitude that influences young children's overall
self-directed learning is 13%, and it is 13.6% when added with communication. In terms of the
influences of sub-factors, it was in the order of self-concept (14.6%), intrinsic motivation (12.0%),
autonomy (11.5%), openness (10.4%), problem-solving ability (10.3%), self-assessment ability
(10.0%) and creativity (8.5%). Among the overall and sub-factors of self-directed learning,
autonomy, problem-solving ability and self-assessment ability were meaningfully being influenced
negatively by rejective rearing attitude. What is unique is that explanatory power of autonomy through rearing attitude was the same even when added with communication, while explanatory
power of intrinsic motivation added with communication was higher than that of other
sub-factors.