Self-Regulation and Prosocial Behavior in Early Childhood Following Parental Divorce: A Case Study of Grandparent Care

Abstract

Background and Objective: Parental divorce can reorganize young children's caregiving ecology, particularly when grandparents assume primary daily care. This study examined how self-regulation and prosocial behavior were expressed in a five-year-old child receiving grandparent care following parental divorce. Methods: A qualitative single-case study conducted in June 2026 in Jember, Indonesia used naturalistic observation, semi-structured interviews with the grandmother and a neighboring informant, and supporting documentation. Data were analyzed through reduction, display, and conclusion verification, supported by source and technique triangulation and member checking. Results: Self-regulation was comparatively stronger in familiar routines: the child showed emerging responsibility and rule-following but inconsistent turn-taking and frustration tolerance. Prosocial behavior was relationship- and context-sensitive: empathy and helping were more evident toward close family members, whereas sharing, sustained cooperation, and conflict-free peer interaction were less stable. Conclusion: The findings indicate that competencies established in predictable grandparent-led routines may not automatically generalize to peer settings. Coordinated home-school routines may help extend waiting, sharing, emotion regulation, and cooperative play across contexts; causal effects of divorce or grandparent care cannot be inferred from this single case.