1-078 - Multiple Socializers: Unique Effects of Maternal, Paternal, and Peer Emotion Socialization

Session Type: Paper Symposium

Integrative Statement

Emotion socialization is an important avenue through which children learn about emotions and, as such, contributes to adaptive outcomes such as emotion regulation (Morris et al., 2007). Fathers and peers are understudied agents of emotion socialization who contribute to emotion understanding, expression, and regulation (Denham, Bassett, & Wyatt, 2007; Zeman & Klimes-Dougan, 2007). In this symposium, we extend prior research by examining emotion socialization by fathers and peers as well as mothers in relation to children’s socio-emotional adjustment.
Presentation 1 examines conjoint effects of maternal and paternal emotion socialization with respect to psychopathology and social functioning in middle childhood. Maternal and paternal socialization interacted in relation to sons’ outcomes, whereas maternal socialization alone was related to daughters’ outcomes. Presentation 2 reports a longitudinal examination of maternal and paternal emotion socialization in relation to emotion regulation and internalizing symptoms. Paternal acceptance of children’s emotions in middle childhood moderated the link between emotion regulation and internalizing symptoms in adolescence. High paternal acceptance appeared to protect against internalizing symptoms in children with poor emotion regulation skills. Presentation 3 addresses parental and peer emotion socialization in relation to children’s bullying behaviors in early adolescence. Children perceived similarity in parents’ and peers’ socialization responses, yet there were differential associations of parent and peer anger magnification with bullying behaviors. Together, the papers demonstrate the importance of examining multiple socialization agents to better understand socio-emotional development.
The discussant, an expert on emotion socialization, will highlight connecting themes and areas for future research, and facilitate constructive discussion.

Sub Unit

• Social, Emotional, Personality

Chair

• Rachel Lynn Miller, Virginia Tech

Discussant

• Amy G Halberstadt, North Carolina State University

Individual Presentations

• Maternal and Paternal Socialization of Children’s Sadness: Links to Psychopathology and Social Functioning - Presenting Author: Jennifer Ann Poon, George Mason Univ; Janice L Zeman, College of William and Mary

• Children's Emotion Regulation and Internalizing Symptoms: The Moderating Role of Parental Acceptance - Presenting Author: Lindsey Bruett, Temple University; Darcy Elizabeth Burgers, Temple University; Deborah A. G. Drabick, Temple University; Maureen Reynolds, University of Pittsburgh

• Parents’ and Peers’ Responses to Children’s Anger: Associations with Children’s Bullying Behavior - Presenting Author: Rachel Lynn Miller, Virginia Tech; Bryce Riley, Virginia Tech; Julie C Dunsmore, Virginia Tech