摘要：This study examined the relationship between maternal attitudes toward children`s expressiveness,children`s emotional intelligence and problem behaviors. The question as to whether emotional intelligence mediated the relationship between maternal attitudes and problem behaviors was also explored. A sample of 307 preschool children were used as subjects. Mothers rated their levels of acceptance toward their children`s emotions,while teachers reported on the children`s emotional abilities and behavioral problems. The data were analyzed by means of regression analyses. Our results indicated that mothers` controlling attitudes were associated with low levels of worry-anxiety. Additionally,it was found that children with high emotional intelligence showed low levels of worry-anxiety,hostility-aggression,and hyperactivity-inattention. While multiple factors of emotional intelligence had differential impacts,the self-control factor was the most powerful predictor for all the problem behaviors. It was further found that a mother`s receptive attitude was related to higher levels of self-awareness in children. Instead of the significant mediating effect of emotional intelligence,it was revealed that emotional intelligence had greater effects upon problem behaviors than maternal attitudes toward children`s expressiveness.
