The Influence of Parent-Child Relationship on Happiness through Peer Relationship: The Moderated Mediation Effect of Emotional Recognition Ability

Objectives The purpose of this study is to investigate whether emotional recognition ability has a moderated mediating effect on the effect of parental relationships on happiness through friendships. Methods For the purpose of this study, the 2,275 4th grade elementary school panel (1st grade middle school) data from the 2018 Korean Children and Youth Panel Survey were used as the analysis subjects. Descriptive statistics were calculated for the data, and Pearson's correlation analysis, mediation effect, moderation effect, and moderated mediation effect analyses were conducted. Results First, the mediating effect of friendships on the effect of parental relationships on happiness was significant. Second, it was found that emotional recognition ability moderated the effect of parental relationship on friendship. Third, emotional recognition ability moderated the mediating effect of parental relationship on happiness through friendship. Conclusions This study confirmed once again that positive interpersonal relationships are important for happiness in adolescence, and that emotional recognition ability moderates the relationship among these three variables. Therefore, these results are significant in that they reveal that the ability to empathize with others' situations and correctly recognize emotions can not only help form positive interpersonal relationships, but also help increase adolescents' own happiness.