PENGARUH ORANG TUA PEKERJA TERHADAP INTERAKSI SOSIAL ANAK USIA 5-6 TAHUN DI TK NURUL HIDAYAH KECAMATAN KADEMANGAN KOTA PROBOLINGGO

Abstrak

This study examines the influence of parents’ employment status on the social interaction of children aged 5–6 years at TK Nurul Hidayah, Kademangan District, Probolinggo City. The research is based on the growing number of working parents in the modern era, which affects parenting patterns and children’s socio-emotional development. Using a quantitative method with a causal associative design, the study involved all students (N=30) through saturated sampling. Data were collected using parent employment questionnaires, structured observations of children’s social interaction, and limited teacher interviews. The results of simple linear regression analysis show a significant effect of parents’ employment status on children’s social interaction, indicated by a t-value of 2.98 and p=0.006 (p<0.05). The coefficient of determination (R²=0.215) demonstrates that 21.5% of the variation in social interaction is influenced by parents’ work intensity, while 78.5% is shaped by other factors such as parenting style, school environment, and peer interaction. Children whose parents have more available time at home tend to display higher social interaction scores, although the quality of communication and emotional warmth remains more influential than the amount of time spent together. The study concludes that parental employment affects children’s social development but does not determine it absolutely. Schools play a crucial compensatory role by providing structured social experiences that support children’s ability to communicate, cooperate, and empathize. These findings emphasize the need for strengthened parental involvement programs and the provision of quality time for children in working households.