A Causal Model of the Family Emotional Climate and behavioral problems of Preschool Children with the Mediation of Social Support

The present study was conducted to determine the mediating role of social support in the relationship between Family Emotional Climate and the behavioral problems of preschool children. The research method was descriptive-correlation based on structural equation modeling. This research was applied in terms of purpose and correlational in terms of methodology. The statistical population included children aged 4 to 6 and preschool children living in Tehran in 2021, of which 358 children were selected by convenience sampling. To collect data, the Berne Family Emotional Climate Questionnaire (BEFCQ, Hillburn, 1964), the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS, Zimmet et al., 1988), and behavioral problems of preschool children (Shahim and Yousefi, 2018) were used. To analyze the data, Pearson's correlation test and structural equation model and SPSS-V22 and PLS-V3 Smart software were used. The findings showed that the emotional atmosphere of the family has a direct effect on children's behavioral problems (β=-0.3 and P≤0.05), and social support has a direct effect on children's behavioral problems (β=-0.3 and P≤0.05). The emotional climate of the family had an indirect effect on children's behavioral problems through the mediating role of social support (β = -0.132 and P = 0.001); Therefore, the emotional atmosphere of the family and social support have a significant effect on the process of children's behavioral problems. These findings have practical applications for psychologists, school counselors, educators, and parents who are in contact with preschool children.