Influence of parenting efficacy, parenting stress, and acculturation stress on parent-child relations among North Korean refugee mothers

PURPOSE: This study assessed the levels of parenting efficacy, parenting stress, and acculturation stress of North Korean refugee mothers and analyzed their effects on parent-child relations. METHODS: A descriptive study design was used. Data were collected during 2019, and 124 North Korean refugee mothers participated. RESULTS: The mean score for parenting efficacy was 53.08 out of 90, that for parent-child relations was 37.84 out of 50, and that for parenting stress was 48.57 out of 90. The parental stress score was higher than that of child-related stress. The acculturation stress level was 90.66 out of 165, with the highest stress levels found for social isolation and distrust and the lowest found for perceived discrimination. Parenting efficacy, parenting stress, acculturation stress, and parent-child relations were significantly related in North Korean refugee mothers. Hierarchical regression analysis showed that the final model had an explanatory power of 35% for parent-child relations (F=17.68, p<.001). Parenting efficacy was the variable with the largest effect on parent-child relations (β=.36, p<.001), followed by parenting stress (β=-.24, p=.010). CONCLUSION: The findings suggest the need to identify ways to decrease parenting stress and improve parenting efficacy. Parenting education can guide North Korean refugee mothers to strengthen their parent-child interactions.