The Effect of a Mother’s Nature Relatedness on Emotional Intelligence of Young Children: Mediating the Effects of Nature Experience and Nature Relatedness Among Young Children

Objectives: Studies of a crucial period of emotional development among young children have recently been reported. This study aimed to verify the effect of mothers' nature relatedness on young children's emotional intelligence through young children's nature experience and nature relatedness.Methods: Data were collected from 278 mothers of children of ages three through five living in South Korea. Mothers were asked to complete questionnaires on their nature relatedness, and their young children’s nature experiences, nature relatedness, and emotional intelligence. Using SPSS 27.0 and AMOS 27.0, this study calculated Pearson’s correlation and applied structural equation modeling for data analyses.Results: Significant positive correlations were found between mothers' nature relatedness, and young children's nature experiences in nature relatedness, and emotional intelligence. The correlation between mothers' and young children's nature relatedness was partially mediated by young children's nature experience. The relationship between mothers' nature relatedness and young children's emotional intelligence was fully mediated by young children's nature relatedness. This study identified a mediation pathway in which young children's nature experiences and young children’s nature relatedness mediated the effect of mothers’ nature relatedness on young children's emotional intelligence.Conclusion: This study identified specific pathways through which mothers' nature relatedness young children's nature experiences and nature relatedness influence the development of young children’s emotional intelligence. These findings also highlight the significance of the frequency of young children’s nature experiences in supporting their emotional development.