Poster #155 - The Influence of Positive Conditional Regard on Spontaneous Helping Behavior in Preschool-Aged Children.

• In Event: 3-053 - Poster Session 10
  In Poster Session: PS 10 Section - Parenting & Parent-Child Relationships

Integrative Statement

Starting at a young age, children have been known to exhibit strong prosocial tendencies (Eisenberg et al., 2006). However, prior research on when these behaviors first manifest and what may influence them is inconclusive. One potential influence is parental conditional regard, a parenting style characterized by parental display of affection to the child that is dependent on the child’s achievement of parentally valued outcomes (Assor et al., 2004). The current study examines the use of positive conditional regard (PCR), on the occurrence of spontaneous helping behaviors in three-year-old children.

Participants were 67 ethnically and socio-economically diverse dyads of mothers (Mage = 32.98 years, SDage = 5.58 years) and their preschool-aged children (Mage = 41.61 months, SDage = 4.99 months). During a laboratory visit, children played three sets of games, which were designed for the child to win against a trained research assistant who would intentionally fail each task. These games included stacking blocks of differing sizes, stacking same-sized blocks, and tossing bean bags into a box. Spontaneous helping behaviors, such as children helping to move the box closer for the bean bag toss or helping the research assistant win by stacking their blocks, were counted. Parents reported on PCR using the Differential Assessment of Conditional Regard Questionnaire.

Using SPSS, we tested the main effect of PCR on children’s spontaneous helping behaviors (SHB), and explore the effect of child age. Results indicated a main effect of PCR (b = -.94; p < .05; 95% CI: -1.75, -.13) on SHB. While the interaction term was not significant,when examining the simple slopes, results revealed that the effect was significant for the younger (M = 36.62, b = -1.23; p < .05; 95% CI: -2.42, -.04) and middle-aged kids (M = 41.61 months, b = -.94; p < .05; 95% CI: -1.75, -.13) in our sample, but not for the older kids (M = 46.60 months, b = -.65; p = .20; 95% CI: -1.64, .34).

Prior research has demonstrated that children who are parented with conditional regard aim to please their parents to receive love (Assor, 2011). However, the use of PCR can also create feelings of shame and unworthiness in children when they do not succeed (Assor et al., 2011). Results of our study suggest that children whose mothers reported using more PCR are less likely to engage in spontaneous helping behaviors with a stranger. Our findings also provide initial evidence for differential age effects; younger children may be more susceptible to contingent approval than their older counterparts.

Group Authors

Yutong Zhou, Jennifer Nguyen, Madeline Ding, Caroline Cochran, Michelle Blanken, Diana Rodriguez, Courtney Chan, Patricia A. Smiley, & Stacey N. Doan

Author

• Yutong Zhou, Claremont McKenna College
  Presenting Author