Article

Caregiver-Child Emotional Interaction and Prosocial Behavior in Infants and Young Children: Self-Regulation as a Mediator and Nonsupportive Emotional Responses as a Moderator of the Indirect Effect

Author

Jiyoung Park, Yoojin Han

Information

pp. 95~110 / 2026 Vol.33 No.2

Abstract

This study examined the mediating role of self-regulation and the moderating role of nonsupportive emotional responses in the relationship between caregiver–child emotional interaction and prosocial behavior in infants and young children. Data were collected from 205 primary caregivers of infants and young children and analyzed using SPSS 26.0 and PROCESS macro Model 7. The results indicated that caregiver–child emotional interaction was positively associated with both self-regulation and prosocial behavior. Self-regulation significantly mediated the relationship between caregiver–child emotional interaction and prosocial behavior. In addition, nonsupportive emotional responses moderated the relationship between caregiver–child emotional interaction and self-regulation, and the moderated mediation effect was significant. These findings suggest that caregiver–child emotional interaction influences prosocial behavior in infants and young children through self-regulation, and that nonsupportive emotional responses serve as an important emotional socialization context. The findings provide empirical support for understanding the developmental processes underlying prosocial behavior in infants and young children.

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