The longitudinal effects of father’s marital satisfaction on child’s school adaption and academic achievement: The mediating effect of child’s self-esteem

This study examined the mediational effects of child’s self-esteem in the relation between father’s marital satisfaction and child’s school adaption and academic achievement. The data in this study came from the Panel Study on Korean Children, using Wave 7 data for marital satisfaction, Wave 8 data for self-esteem, and Wave 9 data for school adaption and academic achievement. First, the fit indices the structural relational model among father’s marital satisfaction, child’s self-esteem, school adaption, and academic achievement were found be generally good. Second, child’s self-esteem mediated the relation between father’s marital satisfaction and child’s school adaption. Third, child’s self-esteem mediated the relation between father’s marital satisfaction and child’s academic achievement. The role of father was highlighted regarding the effects of marital satisfaction on child developmental outcomes. This study would useful for practical interventions and policy development to improve marital relationship.