Preschool Children’s Social Information Processing Mediates the Link between the Quality of the Parent-Child Relationship and the Child’s Learning Difficulties

Reout Arbel, Inbar Sofri, Einat Elizarov and Yair Ziv
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Reout Arbel: Department of Counseling and Human Development, The Faculty of Education, University of Haifa, Haifa 3498838, Israel
Inbar Sofri: Department of Counseling and Human Development, The Faculty of Education, University of Haifa, Haifa 3498838, Israel
Einat Elizarov: Department of Counseling and Human Development, The Faculty of Education, University of Haifa, Haifa 3498838, Israel
Yair Ziv: Department of Counseling and Human Development, The Faculty of Education, University of Haifa, Haifa 3498838, Israel

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 4, 1-15

Abstract: (1) Background: This study aims to explore children’s social information processing (SIP) as an explanatory mechanism in the link between parent–child relationship and children’s learning difficulties in kindergarten; (2) Methods: The sample included 115 kindergarteners (62 girls; 53 boys; Mage = 68.5 months, SD = 6.04), their parents and the school teacher. Parents reported on relationship quality with the child and teachers reported on children’s learning difficulties and school achievements. Children’s SIP was assessed with the social information processing interview—preschool version (3) Results: Mother and father relationship quality with the child associated with children’s SIP; however, only the father’s but not the mother’s quality of relationship with the child was associated with children’s learning difficulties and school achievements. Children’s SIP mediated this latter link; (4) Conclusions: Parents’ relationship quality with the child and children’s SIP are pertinent factors in children’s learning in the early years. The father–child relationship seems to be a strong determinant of a child’s approach to learning and achievement and may have long lasting effects on children’s mental health.

Keywords: social information processing; preschool; learning difficulties; parent-child relationships; fathers (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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