2-168 - Maternal Socialization of Toddlers' Self-Regulation: Examination of Moment-to-Moment Dynamics in Diverse Samples

Session Type: Paper Symposium

Integrative Statement

Variations in young children’s self-regulation are linked to parenting factors. As yet, however, we do not understand the moment-to-moment dynamics of how parents respond to and help very young children confronted with self-regulation challenges. Identifying moment-to-moment mechanisms governing these dynamics informs how we tailor parenting interventions to specific parent-toddler interactions involving self-regulation. The presented studies investigated factors that contribute to helping toddlers cope with waiting for a desired object. Three diverse samples ranging from economically strained rural dyads living in U.S. including Latino, White and Black families to dyads in Romania and Turkey were used. The presentations illustrate the novel methodological approach of studying the dynamics of moment-to-moment parent-toddler exchanges and its potential for identification of strategies, processes, and characteristics that support or hinder toddlers’ self-regulation. The first presentation focuses on maternal emotion expressions, discussing how mothers’ negative emotion disrupts frustration tolerance and how maternal positive emotion reduces toddler anger, especially for girls. The second presentation focuses on maternal positive emotion, discussing how it facilitates toddlers’ calm versus angry interactions with mothers and may facilitate toddlers’ efforts to distract themselves from the wait. The third paper discusses how a number of factors such as cultural group, child distress level, and, the timing at which strategies are provided, influence the effectiveness of maternal efforts to help toddlers tolerate wait. The discussant, an expert in the use of temporal analyses of interaction dynamics, will underscore the value of the utilized methods and moderate audience discussion on consideration of moment-to-moment and dyadic sequences.

Sub Unit

• Social, Emotional, Personality

Chair

• Neda Senehi, University of Colorado Denver Anschutz Medical Campus

Discussant

• Amanda Morris, Oklahoma State University

Individual Presentations

• Effects of Maternal and Toddlers’ Regulatory Strategies on Toddlers’ Emotional and Behavioral Regulation - Presenting Author: Neda Senehi, University of Colorado Denver Anschutz Medical Campus; Non-Presenting Author: Holly Brophy-Herb, Michigan State University

• Beyond Sensitivity: Maternal Positive Emotion and its Relation to Child Regulation - Presenting Author: Mary Samantha English, The Pennsylvania State University; Non-Presenting Author: Pamela M. Cole, The Pennsylvania State University; Non-Presenting Author: Emily N LeDonne, Fernandes Center for Children & Families, St. Anne's Hospital

• Effectiveness of Maternal Regulatory Attempts on Toddlers’ Negative Affect in US, Turkey, and Romania - Presenting Author: Wolfgang Friedlmeier, Grand Valley State University; Non-Presenting Author: Rasmus Grydehoj, Grand Valley State University; Non-Presenting Author: FEYZA ÇORAPÇI, BOĞAZİÇİ UNİVERSITY; Non-Presenting Author: Georgiana Susa-Erdogan, Babeș-Bolyai University; Non-Presenting Author: Oana Benga, Babeș-Bolyai University