유아 언어능력 관련 제반변인 간의 구조적 관계 분석: 주의력, 자아존중감, 작업기억, 사회성을 중심으로

Abstract

본 연구는 유아의 언어능력에 영향을 미치는 주의력, 자아존중감, 작업기억, 사회성 간의구조적 관계를 밝히는데 목적이 있다. 연구대상은 유치원에 재원 중인 만 5세 유아 229명이었으며, 평균 월령은 72.77개월이었다. ‘자아존중감 검사도구’, ‘작업기억 검사도구’, ‘사회성 검사도구’, ‘유아 주의력 검사도구’ ‘유아 수용ㆍ표현 언어 검사’를 통해 연구 자료를 수집하였고구조방정식 모형 분석을 통해 검증하였다. 연구결과 첫째, 유아의 자아존중감은 주의력을 매개하여 언어능력에 영향을 주는 변인으로 나타났다. 둘째, 유아의 작업기억은 언어능력에 직접적인 영향을 미침과 동시에 주의력을 매개로 간접적인 효과도 있는 것으로 밝혀졌다. 셋째, 유아의 사회성은 언어능력에 직접효과를 나타냈으며 주의력을 매개하는 간접효과는 나타나지않았다.

This study investigated the structural relationships among young children’s language ability, self-esteem, working memory, and social and attention ability. Subjects in this study were 229 young children whose mean age was 72.77 months, and who attended kindergartens in S city. Research instruments used in collecting data were 'Receptiveㆍ Expressive Vocabulary Test', ‘Children's Self-esteem Scale’, ‘K-WISC IV’, ‘Social Skill & Situation Measurement’ and 'Mr. CUCUI'. The collected data were analyzed through SPSS 18.0 and AMOS 18.0 program. Structural equation model was used to analyze the data. Findings are as follows. First, it was revealed that the self-esteem of the young children appeared to be a factor influencing their language ability through attention ability. Second, the working memory of the young children was found to have a direct effect on their language ability as well as an indirect effect through the attention ability. Third, the children's social ability was found to have a direct effect on their language ability, while indirect effects mediating the attention ability were not found.