Publication Date

2021

Document Type

Dissertation/Thesis

First Advisor

Bridgett, David J.

Degree Name

M.A. (Master of Arts)

Legacy Department

Department of Psychology

Abstract

Emotion regulation (ER), the regulatory component of temperament, has important implications for emotional, behavioral, and physical health throughout the lifespan. Researchers have examined various factors, such as maternal ER functioning and parenting behaviors, that influence the development of ER abilities in early childhood. Greater maternal ER functioning, including the use of cognitive reappraisal, is linked to better child ER. Additionally, positive parenting, characterized by warm, responsive, sensitive, and supportive interactions, has been found to predict better child ER functioning. Negative parenting (i.e., harsh, intrusive, and insensitive interactions) predicts poor child ER. Maternal ER has also been found to predict parenting, such that the use of cognitive reappraisal predicts positive parenting, whereas maternal use of suppression is associated with negative parenting. Parenting behaviors have been found to be a mechanism through which aspects of maternal self-regulation (e.g., ER, executive functioning) has an indirect effect on children self-regulation. However, these links between maternal ER strategies, positive and negative parenting, and specific child ER abilities have yet to be investigated, specifically in infancy. To address the gaps in the literature, the current study examined positive and negative parenting behaviors as a mediator between maternal ER and infant ER, while controlling for cumulative risk factors (e.g., maternal history of depression, single or teen motherhood, family income-to-needs ratio that is at or below the poverty line). Data from a larger longitudinal studying involving 179 mother-infant dyads was used. Mothers completed questionnaires at 4 months postpartum. Mother-infant dyads attended laboratory visits at 6, 8, 10, and 12 months postpartum, during which parenting and infant ER behaviors were behaviorally coded. Evidence of mediation was not supported as neither positive and negative parenting nor maternal cognitive reappraisal and suppression predicted infant ER. Maternal suppression predicted positive and negative parenting. Correlational associations demonstrated links between positive parenting and infant ER behaviors, and negative parenting and infant ER behaviors. Implications of these findings and recommendations for future research are discussed.

Extent

128 pages

Language

eng

Publisher

Northern Illinois University

Rights Statement

In Copyright

Rights Statement 2

NIU theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from Huskie Commons for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without the written permission of the authors.

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Text

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