This study aimed to analyze the effect of parent-child relationships on early childhood delay gratification with emotion regulation as a mediating variable. A quantitative approach using Partial Least Squares-Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) was employed. The participants consisted of 20 parents and children aged 5–6 years at TK Sabilul Khaerot selected through total sampling. Data were collected using questionnaires and observation sheets and analyzed using SmartPLS 4. The results showed that parent-child relationships had a positive and significant effect on emotion regulation. However, parent-child relationships did not have a significant direct effect on children's delay gratification. Emotion regulation had a positive and significant effect on delay gratification and significantly mediated the relationship between parent-child relationships and delay gratification. These findings indicate that children's ability to delay gratification is influenced more by emotion regulation developed through positive parent-child relationships than by the relationship itself. Therefore, strengthening parent-child relationships should be accompanied by efforts to improve children's emotion regulation in order to support the development of self-control during early childhood.
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