One Candy or Two at the Age of Six: Does it Matter for Later School Life and Why? / Jedan bombon ili dva u dobi od šest godina: ima li važnosti za kasniji školski život i zašto?

Abstract

This study explored the role of early delay of gratification (DoG) and its positive outcomes in the child’s later school life. More specifically, it investigated whether DoG measured in six-year-old preschool children predicts their subsequent emotional intelligence, quality of school life and life satisfaction in higher grades of elementary school. Also, the mediating role of emotional intelligence in the relationship between delay of gratification at preschool age and subsequent quality of school life and life satisfaction was also examined. The sample comprised 141 students (48.2 % girls). Delay of gratification (DoG) was measured among six-year-old children; other measurement for one part of the sample was done at the seventh, and for the other part at the eighth grade. DoG was measured by the DoG task: children may eat one tempting treat immediately or they may earn a larger serving by waiting for an unspecified amount of time, doing assessment tasks. Other measurements included the Emotional Intelligence Scale (Wong & Low, 2002), the Quality of School Life Questionnaire (Leonard, 2002; Raboteg Šarić et al., 2009) and the Students’ Life Satisfaction Scale (Huebner, 1991). It was found that students who succeeded in delaying gratification at preschool age had subsequently higher life satisfaction, higher sense of school achievement, and higher emotional intelligence (the use of emotions to facilitate performance and regulation of emotions in the self). Mediation analyses found that the overall emotional intelligence mediates the relationship between DoG and life satisfaction. Also, the component of emotional intelligence called the Use of emotions to facilitate performance was deemed a significant mediator between DoG and a sense of scholarly achievement. Croatian Journal of Education Vol. 23; Sp.Ed.No.1/2021, pages: 105-123 Original research paper Paper submitted: 13 June 2020 Paper accepted: 6 January 2021 https://doi.org/10.15516/cje.v23i0.4081 Rijavec, Ljubin-Golub and Brebrić: One Candy or Two at the Age of Six: Does it Matter for Later School ... 106 It can be concluded that the strengthening of regulatory mechanisms in preschool age may be beneficial for both life satisfaction and the sense of academic achievement in higher grades of elementary school.