The Study of Mediating Role of Private Speech in Conceptual Model of Relationship between Language Development, Secure Attachment and Behavioral Self-Regulation

The aim of this study conducted to examine mediator role of private speech in conceptual model relation between language development and secure attachment with self-regulation in children. Using available sampling method, 128 children from kindergarten centers of Tehran city were selected. Persian Version of Test of language development (Newcomer and Hammill, 1997), Disturbances of Attachment Interview (Smyke & Zeanah, 1999), self-regulation scale (Amrai, 2015), Preschool Children Behavioral Disorder (Shahim and Yousefi, 1999) and Structured Observation of Behavioral Regulation (Ponitz and et al, 2008) were administered with both mothers and their children. Path analysis was employed in order to analyze the data. The results showed that model have fitness in which language development and secure attachment have direct and indirect effects on behavioral self-regulation. In addition, private speech showed mediated role for relationship of language development and secure attachment as well as self-regulation. The findings of present study showed prediction of children self-regulation based on language development and secure attachment with mediator role of private speech. Therefore it is reasonable to suggest considering language development and attachment style of children as a way to reduce behavioral problem and improve self-regulation.