The socialization of emotional expression: Relations with prosocial behaviour and competence in five samples

Journal/Book: Can J Behav Sci. 1999; 31: 151 Slater St, Ste 205, Ottawa, Ontario K1P 5H3, Canada. Canadian Psychol Assoc. 72-85.

Abstract: This paper reports on five studies that focused on the socialization of emotions and children's prosocial behaviour and ego resilience in preschool. Parents reported their socialization practices using a 99-item version of Block's Child Rearing Practices Q-sort, and teachers assessed children's competence using Baumrind's Preschool Behavior Q-sort. Meta-analytic techniques were used to combine correlational results across samples (3 from Ontario and 2 from British Columbia). In all, 150 families participated; children's mean age = 4.2 years; 57% were girls. Nearly 79% of all comparisons replicated across samples, 18% with mean rs > .30. Consistent with the cognitive-emotional processing model (Roberts & Strayer, 1987), (1) children's ego-resilient and prosocial behaviours were related to parents' tolerant, non-punitive responses to emotional distress; (2) partial correlations supported the contention that emotional socialization practices affect outcomes independently of other dimensions of parenting; and (3) longitudinal data (available for one sample) indicated that greater emphasis on emotional control was related to declines in boys' friendly, ego-resilient behaviours 2 1/2 years later. However, consistent with emotion regulation models, parenting practices that emphasized the control of emotional expression were sometimes positively related to contemporary measures of competence.

Note: Article Roberts WL, Univ Coll Cariboo, Dept Psychol, 900 McGill Dr, Kamloops, BC V2C 5N3, CANADA

Keyword(s): SOCIAL COMPETENCE; CHILDREN; PRESCHOOLERS; PERSONALITY; ATTACHMENT; DISTRESS; DIVORCE; EMPATHY

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