Cynthia L. Smith

The Relations of Effortful Control and Ego Control to Children's Resiliency and Social Functioning.

The relations of effortful control and ego control to childrens (mean age = 137 months) resiliency, social status, and social competence were examined concurrently (Time 3) and over time. Adults reported on the constructs, and a behavioral measure of persistence was obtained. At Time 3, resiliency mediated the unique relations of both effortful and reactive control to social status, and effortful control directly predicted socially appropriate behavior. Negative emotionality moderated the relations of ego and effortful control to socially appropriate behavior. When levels of the variables 2 years prior were accounted for, all relations held at Time 3 except that effortful control did not predict resiliency (even though it was the stronger predictor at Time 3) and ego control directly predicted socially appropriate behavior.

Predicting Stability and Change in Toddler Behavior Problems: Contributions of Maternal Behavior and Child Gender

This study examined the stability and continuity of early-identified behavior problems and the factors associated with this stability. Children and their mothers (N=125) were seen when the children were 2 and 4 years of age. Maternal reports of child externalizing behavior and laboratory observations of child noncompliance were stable from age 2 to age 4. Early externalizing behaviors decreased over time; however, child noncompliance in the laboratory did not. Although few associations were found between maternal positive behavior and child behavior problems, maternal controlling behavior was related to increases in child behavior problems, particularly at high levels of both prior noncompliance and prior maternal control. Child noncompliance was predictive of increases in maternal controlling behavior over time.

Stability in infant frontal asymmetry as a predictor of toddlerhood internalizing and externalizing behaviors

Stability in frontal brain electrical activity (i.e., electroencephalographic or EEG) asymmetry at 10 and 24 months was examined with respect to maternal ratings of internalizing and externalizing behaviors at 30 months in a sample of 48 children. Children with stable left frontal EEG asymmetry during infancy were rated higher in externalizing behaviors by their mothers, whereas children with stable right frontal EEG asymmetry were rated higher in internalizing behaviors. These findings highlight the need to focus on the early stability in physiological measures that may be implicated later in developing behavioral problems.

Emotion-related regulation: Its conceptualization, relations to social functioning, and socialization

Contents: P. Philippot, R.S. Feldman, Preface. Part I:Basic Physiological and Cognitive Processes in the Regulation of Emotion. A. Bechara, A Neural View of the Regulation of Complex Cognitive Functions by Emotion. G. Stemmler, Physiological Processes During Emotion. P. Philippot, C. Baeyens, C. Douilliez, B. Francart, Cognitive Regulation of Emotion: Application to Clinical Disorders. Part II:Social and Motivational Aspects of Emotional Regulation. E.A. Butler, J.J. Gross, Hiding Feelings in Social Contexts: Out of Sight Is Not Out of Mind. M.N. Shiota, B. Campos, D. Keltner, M.J. Hertenstein, Positive Emotion and the Regulation of Interpersonal Relationships. E. Zech, B. Rime, F. Nils, Social Sharing of Emotion, Emotional Recovery, and Interpersonal Aspects. A. Fisher, A.S.R. Manstead, C. Evers, M. Timmers, G. Valk, Motives and Norms Underlying Emotion Regulation. Part III:Self-Presentation and Emotion Regulation. D.M. Tice, R.F. Baumeister, L. Zhang, The Role of Emotion in Self-Regulation: Differing Role of Positive and Negative Emotions. D. Hrubes, R.S. Feldman, J. Tyler, Emotion-Focused Deception: The Role of Deception in the Regulation of Emotion. S. Kitayama, M. Karasawa, B. Mesquita, Collective and Personal Processes in Regulating Emotions: Emotion and Self in Japan and the United States. Part IV:Individual Differences and the Development of Emotion Regulation. N. Eisenberg, T.L. Spinrad, C.L. Smith, Emotion-Related Regulation: Its Conceptualization, Relations to Social Functioning, and Socialization. S.D. Calkins, R.B. Howse, Individual Differences in Self-Regulation: Implications for Childhood Adjustment. C.A. Pauls, Physiological Consequences of Emotion Regulation: Taking Into Account the Effects of Strategies, Personality, and Situation. A.M. Kring, K.H. Werner, Emotion Regulation and Psychopathology.

Multiple Determinants of Parenting: Predicting Individual Differences in Maternal Parenting Behavior with Toddlers

SYNOPSIS Objective. A comprehensive understanding of individual differences in maternal parenting behaviors cannot be realized without consideration of multiple determinants of parenting within the same study. The goal of the present study was to examine the association of 3 categories of determinants of parenting (i.e., parent personality, contextual sources of stress and support, and child effects) to individual differences in maternal parenting behaviors. Design. Supportive and controlling parenting and child social responsiveness were observed during 2 free-play sessions when toddlers (N = 140) were 30 to 36 months old. Mothers completed questionnaires measuring personality and contextual sources of stress and support. Results. More maternal supportive behaviors were predicted by higher levels of child social responsiveness. More maternal control was associated with lower socioeconomic status, more work outside of the home, more extraversion, and more neuroticism. Conclusions. Because the determinants of parenting that predicted maternal controlling behaviors were different from those that predicted supportive parenting behaviors, examining how multiple determinants of parenting relate to different aspects of parenting behavior is necessary to more fully understand individual difference in parenting behaviors.

Development of a Standardized Tool for Intergenerational Programming: The Intergenerational Observation Scale

ABSTRACT Innovative intergenerational programs continue to grow in number and scope. The development of standardized evaluation instruments, however, lags behind, leaving many researchers and practitioners without tools to effectively assess their programs. Evaluation data often focus on outcomes without attention to the nature of the interactions between generations. Understanding the process of intergenerational contact is central to understanding its outcomes. We developed the Intergenerational Observation Scale to assess the social interactions and affect of young and old participants during intergenerational activities. Our three-step observer training process demonstrated good scale reliability. We present the process of developing the scale, achieving observer reliability, and next steps to continue exploring the scales utility across intergenerational populations and settings.

Effortful Control and Parents' Emotion Socialization Patterns Predict Children's Positive Social Behavior: A Person-Centered Approach

Research Findings: We examined relations of effortful control with parent emotion socialization practices and child social behavior using a person-centered approach in children ages 18 months to 5 years. A total of 76 parents (66 mothers, 10 fathers) completed questionnaires at screening and 6-month follow-up. There were no age differences in change in effortful control. K-means cluster analysis identified 2 clusters for parent emotion socialization: low-involvement parents (lower levels on emotion coaching/dismissing and positive/negative expressivity) and high-involvement parents (higher levels on all such practices). Parent socialization profile was indirectly associated with childrens positive social behaviors through childrens change in effortful control. These associations did not extend to aggressive behavior. Children with parents who actively engage in a variety of emotion socialization practices may increase more in regulatory capacities and engage in more positive social behavior. Practice or Policy: The present study suggests the importance of using a variety of socialization strategies with young children to foster adaptive regulatory and social behaviors.

Infant frontal electroencephalogram asymmetry and negative emotional reactivity as predictors of toddlerhood effortful control.

Given the importance of childrens self-regulation, relations were examined between two fundamental components of self-regulation, specifically temperamentally based reactivity and regulation. Infant negative emotional reactivity and regulation, measured via frontal electroencephalogram (EEG) asymmetry, were examined as potential precursors to understanding toddlerhood regulation, conceptualized as effortful control. Our longitudinal design allowed for examination of two perspectives on the interplay of reactivity and regulation, namely that (a) early negative affectivity interferes with the development of later regulation and (b) regulation is necessary to modulate negative affectivity and, thus, would buffer the effects of negative affectivity on later regulation. Mother-child dyads participated in a three-wave longitudinal study. Baseline frontal EEG asymmetry was assessed at 10months (T1). Mothers rated childrens negative reactivity at both 10 and 24months (T2). Childrens effortful control, measured at 30-36months (T3), was a composite score of maternal ratings and observed behavior during a snack delay. Negative affectivity was related to effortful control; however, significant interactions between negative affect and frontal EEG asymmetry were found. Higher levels of negative affectivity at both T1 and T2 were associated with lower levels of effortful control at T3, but only for toddlers who also had right frontal EEG asymmetry. Negative affectivity was not associated with effortful control for the left frontal EEG asymmetry group. Our moderation findings highlight the complex relations of negative affect and frontal EEG asymmetry in understanding childrens development of self-regulation, specifically effortful control. The interaction between early reactivity and physiological regulation indicates that both may be important precursors of effortful control.

Parenting, Anger, and Effortful Control as Predictors of Child Externalizing Behavior: The Role of Child Sex as a Moderator.

Externalizing behaviors observed in early childhood have been found to be stable, particularly for boys, but little research has investigated the antecedents of these behaviors, especially how the antecedents may differentially relate to externalizing behaviors in boys and girls. The goal of this study was to explore predictors of externalizing behaviors concurrently in toddlerhood and longitudinally to preschool. When children (n = 140) were 30–36 months old, maternal supportive and controlling behaviors were observed, and children’s effortful control and anger were measured through observations and maternal report. Mothers reported on children’s externalizing behavior during toddlerhood and approximately 2 years later (n = 116). Although mean level differences were not found between boys and girls, effortful control was differentially related to externalizing behaviors in toddlerhood. Higher levels of effortful control were associated with less externalizing behaviors for boys but not for girls. Additionally, anger was positively related to externalizing behaviors. Few associations were found for maternal behaviors, which emphasizes the importance of child characteristics in externalizing behaviors. Our findings emphasize how future research should continue to examine relations of early antecedents to concurrent and later externalizing behaviors even if mean level sex differences are not found.

Maternal Stress and Sensitivity: Moderating Effect of Positive Affect

SYNOPSIS Objective. Stress felt by parents is often negatively related to their ability to engage in optimal parenting; however, research on relations of parenting stress to parenting behaviors typically examines negative associations instead of taking a strengths-based approach. The current study examines longitudinally the role of positive affect as a moderator of the relation of parenting stress to later maternal sensitivity, controlling for prior levels of sensitivity. Design. Maternal positive affect and maternal sensitivity were observed for 93 mother–child dyads during free-play sessions when children were 4- to 5-years-old (T1) and 8- to 9-years-old (T2), respectively. Mothers reported on parenting stress felt from dysfunctional parent–child interactions (T1). Results. Maternal positive affect moderated the association of parenting stress to sensitivity at T2, after controlling for prior levels of sensitivity at T1. Mothers who exhibited low positive affect were less likely to respond sensitively at T2 to their children when parenting stress was high; however, no association was found when positive affect was high. Conclusions. Maternal positive affect may buffer the effect of parenting stress on maternal sensitivity with school-aged children.