Used signal detection methodology to examine how cognitive set affects mothers' response to crying by "difficult" and "easy" infants. Found that increased mothers' sensitivity was associated with the "difficult" infant cognitive set and that mothers with high illusory control were least sensitive in detecting…

The primary objectives of this investigation were to examine the attributions, emotional reactions, and coping strategies of shy withdrawn and aggressive girls and boys "and" to examine whether such social cognitions differ within the relationship context of friendship. Drawn from a sample of fifth and sixth graders (M age=10.79 years; SD=.77), 78…

Preschoolers' normative patterns, individual styles, and developmental changes in coping with anger between others (background anger) were examined. Pairs of children were observed playing while two adults in an adjacent room verbally expressed anger toward each other. Children were also interviewed concerning the feelings they had during the…

Examined responses of 63 children of 4-9 years to different forms of expression of anger. Angry interactions between adults elicited anger and distress in young children and were discriminated from more positive interactions. Children responded negatively to unresolved expressions of anger. (RJC)

Results of 2 studies suggested that 11- and 12-year-old children's appraisals of marital conflict are influenced by the content, intensity, and cause of the conflict; and that the meaning of marital conflict to children is an important determinant of its impact on them. (MDM)

This study examined the relation of infant emotional responses of anger and sadness to cortisol response in 2 goal blockage situations. One goal blockage with 4-month-old infants (N=56) involved a contingency learning procedure where infants' learned response was no longer effective in reinstating an event. The other goal blockage with 6-month-old…

Preschool children's behavorial and physiological responses to separation were monitored before, during, and after their mothers' hospitalization for the birth of a sibling. Play sessions were videotaped simultaneously with activity level and heart rate monitoring, nighttime sleep was timelapse videotaped, and parents completed questionnaires…

Examined the relations of teachers' and parents' reports of children's shyness at ages 6-8, 8-10, and 10-12 years to dispositional regulation, emotionality, and coping. The overall pattern of findings was partially consistent with the conclusion that parent-rated shyness reflected primarily social wariness with unfamiliar people, whereas…

Examined relation between parents' reactions to preschoolers' negative emotions and social competence. Found that the relation between harsh parental coping strategies and children's emotional responding was moderated by parental distress. Relation between the interaction of parental coping and distress to children's social competence was mediated…

Examined the effects of child maltreatment and interadult violence on children's developing strategies of emotion regulation and socioemotional development, and the role of emotion dysregulation in mediating the link between children's pathogenic relational experiences and behavioral outcomes for 3- to 6-year-olds. Found that maltreatment history…

Assessed parental characteristics; children's physiological and self-reported reactions to a sympathy-inducing film; and children's dispositional traits. Parental sympathy was related to low distress in same-sex children, and to sons' sympathy. Same-sex parental restrictiveness of hurtful emotional displays was related to children's sympathy. (BC)

Investigated homesickness in boys ages 8 through 16. Results indicated that homesickness was prevalent and varied in intensity, was experienced as a combination of depression and anxiety, was presented most often as internalizing behavior, and was more typical for younger boys. The most-homesick became increasingly so during the separation,…

Examined stress and coping symptoms of 258 children whose parents were divorced. Found that, in the cross-sectional model, avoidance coping partially mediated the relations between negative events and symptoms; while active coping moderated between negative events and conduct problems. In the longitudinal model, significant negative paths were…