Early Behavioral Inhibition and Emotion Regulation: Pathways Toward Social Competence in Middle Childhood. Issue 4 (25th May 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Penela, Elizabeth C.; Walker, Olga L.; Degnan, Kathryn A.; Fox, Nathan A.; Henderson, Heather A.
• Is Part Of: Child development. Volume 86:Issue 4(2015)
• Page Start: 1227
• Page End: 1240
• Publication Date: 2015-05-25
• Subjects: Child development -- Periodicals; Child psychology -- Periodicals; Child Development -- Periodicals; Child Development; Pediatrics -- Periodicals; Pedicatrics; 305.231
• DOI: 10.1111/cdev.12384
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0009-3920

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" id="cdev12384-abs-0001"> <title> <x xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <p>This study examined emotion regulation (ER) as a mediator in the relation between early behavioral inhibition (BI) and later social competence (<italic>N </italic>=<italic> </italic>257), and whether this mediation varied depending on BI levels. Maternal report and observational measures were used to assess BI (ages 2 and 3). Children's ER strategies (age 5) and social competence with an unfamiliar peer (age 7) were measured using observational measures. Results showed that BI predicted less engaged ER strategies during a disappointment task, and engaged ER predicted higher social competence. Engaged ER mediated the effect of BI on social competence, but only for highly inhibited children. Findings elucidate developmental trajectories of risk and resilience, and suggest targeting regulatory strategies in early prevention efforts with highly inhibited children.</p> </abstract>