[Comparison of the factors influencing children's self-esteem between two parent families and single parent families].
OBJECTIVE
This study was done to compare factors influencing children's self-esteem between two parent families and single parent families.


METHODS
The participants were 692 children aged 11 to 13 yr (388 in two parent families and 304 in single parent families) recruited from 20 community agencies and 5 elementary schools in Gyeonggi Province and Seoul City, South Korea. Data were collected from May to July, 2007 using a survey questionnaire containing items on self-esteem, internal control, problematic behavior, school record, family hardiness, parent-child communication and social support. The data were analyzed using SPSS 15.0 program and factors affecting children's self-esteem were analyzed by stepwise multiple regression.


RESULTS
Scores for the study variables were significantly different between the two groups. The factors influencing children's self-esteem were also different according to family type. For two parent families, internal control, problematic behavior, school record, and parent-child communication significantly predicted the level of self-esteem (adjusted R(2)=.505, p<.001). For single parent families, social support, family hardiness, internal control, problematic behavior, school record, and parent-child communication significantly predicted the level of self-esteem (adjusted R(2)=.444, p<.001).


CONCLUSIONS
Nurse working with children should consider family type-specific factors influencing their self-esteem.
Sok
Sohyune R
SR
College of Nursing Science, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Korea.
Shin
Sung Hee
SH
D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior; D002648:Child; D002652:Child Behavior; D003142:Communication; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010287:Parent-Child Relations; D000297:Psychology, Adolescent; D012649:Self Concept; D020954:Single-Parent Family; D012944:Social Support; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires