This study examined the influences of general characteristics, maternal parenting behaviors and children’s self-control ability on children’s social competence. A total of 416 children in the fifth and sixth grades responded to questionnaires, which included items related to their social competence, their mothers’ parenting behavior, as well as their own self-control ability. Data were analyzed by means of Pearson correlation analysis and the hierarchical regression analysis method. According to the results of the hierarchical multiple regression analysis, children’s self-control ability best explained their social competence. In terms of individual factors, motivational self-control had the greatest effect on social competence, followed by cognitive self-regulation, behavioral self-regulation, economic level, gender and grades, in that order. The results for the effects of maternal parenting behaviors and children’s self-control ability on children’s social competence highlighted the important roles played by the mother and the child’s self-control ability in improving the child’s social competence. The study contributes to the literature by providing fundamental insights into children’s higher quality of life.