This study examines the effects of parental neglect on children''s development and behavioral problem focusing on moderating effect of poverty.
Participants included 711 elementary students from 4th grade to 6th grade. Participants were selected by panel data from Korean Welfare Panel Study.
Analysis were conducted using PASW 18.0. Descriptive statistics, Pearson correlations, independent sample t-test, and hierarchical regression were performed to verify relationship between parental neglect, poverty, children''s development and behavioral problem. Also, simple slope test was conducted to assess moderating effect of poverty.
Participant''s sociodemographic variables included gender, age, peer relation, parents'' academic background and age, household types and family size. Participants who belongs normal households were 476 cases(66.9%) and the others(who belongs poor households) were 235 cases(33.1%) and range in grade from 4th to 6th grade.
The results of the study are as follow. First, the gaps between the participants who belongs normal households and who belongs poor households were not shown except on academic achievements area. Second, higher level of parental neglect decreases children''s development and increases behavioral problem. Third, the influence of poverty on children''s development and behavioral problem was statistically insignificant. Fourth, poverty moderates the relationship between parental neglect and children''s attention concentration as well as parental neglect and children''s self-esteem.
Based on these findings, the implications were discussed. Further studies should be discussed including variety meanings of poverty. Also, decent measurement scale of parental neglect should be developed as well as parental abuse. Finally, qualitative research should be studied for both parents and children.