Date of Award

2014

Publication Type

Master Thesis

Degree Name

M.A.

Department

Psychology

Keywords

aggression, emotion regulation, parenting, shared affect, young children

Supervisor

Menna, Rosanne

Rights

info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess

Abstract

The present research examined links between children's emotion regulation, mother-child shared affect, mothers' perceived parenting support, parenting practices (i.e., mothers' involvement, limit setting, communication), and young children's physical aggression. Participants were 129 young children (3 to 6 years) and their mothers. Mothers completed questionnaires assessing parenting practices, parenting support, and their children's emotion regulation and aggressive behaviour. Mother-child dyads participated in a free play task and a structured block task. These mother-child interactive tasks were coded for shared positive and negative affect between the dyads. Higher levels of mothers' limit setting and communication were each related to lower levels of children's physical aggression. Higher levels of mothers' involvement, and limit setting were related to lower levels of children's physical aggression, partially because children were better at regulating their emotions. These findings are discussed with regards to implications for working with aggressive young children and their parents.

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