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Norwegian parents' reactions to children's negative emotions

Bibliographic Data

ID21391809
AuthorsRune Flaaten Bjørk (0000-0002-0421-2399, University of Oslo Oslo Norway, corresponding author), Sophie S Havighurst (0000-0002-7931-1025, University of Melbourne Melbourne Australia), Eivor Fredriksen (0000-0002-3442-4480, University of Oslo Oslo Norway), Evalill Bølstad (0000-0002-9271-6510, University of Oslo Oslo Norway)
Year2024
Volume65
Issue6
Pages1039-1054
Publication date2024-12-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueScandinavian Journal of Psychology (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0036-5564 • E-ISSN: 1467-9450
PublisherWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1111/sjop.13051
PMID38952033
OpenAlexW4400260631
LanguageEN
Citations received2
References cited89

INTRODUCTION: Developmental research suggests that children learn to regulate their emotions and behavior through a process of emotion socialization. The main body of literature is based on samples from the United States, and very little is known about the socialization of emotions in Nordic settings. OBJECTIVES: The current study aimed to explore associations between mothers' and fathers' reactions to children's negative emotions and externalizing behavior problems in a Nordic cultural context, and to explore gender differences in these associations. METHODS: Parent-report data on the Coping with Children's Negative Emotions Scale (CCNES) and the Eyberg Child Behavior Inventory 6 (ECBI) was collected in a large sample of Norwegian preschool-aged children (mothers, n = 242; fathers, n = 183; N = 257; M = 54 months, SD = 4.54; 49% boys). Teacher-report data was collected using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) conduct scale (n = 117). RESULTS: Both parents' supportive and non-supportive reactions were associated with child externalizing difficulties in expected directions as evidenced by path models, controlling for socioeconomic status and age. A pattern emerged in which non-supportive reactions to a greater extent predicted an increase in externalizing problems in girls, and supportive reactions predicted lower levels of externalizing problems in boys. CONCLUSION: Our findings supported the basic assumptions of emotion socialization theory in a Nordic cultural context in which parental supportive and non-supportive responses are related to child externalizing difficulties. Nordic parents are important socialization agents for their children, but their behaviors had a differential effect on boys' and girls' externalizing behavior problems

Context (archaeology) · Coping (psychology) · Developmental psychology · Mental health · Norwegian · Population · Psychiatry · Socialization · Socioeconomic status · Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire · Attachment and Relationship Dynamics · Child and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development · Clinical Psychology · Early Childhood Education and Development · Psychology