As I See or Do? Exploring Parental Perceptions of and Magnifying Responses to Children's Anxiety Symptoms.
Saved in:
| Title: | As I See or Do? Exploring Parental Perceptions of and Magnifying Responses to Children's Anxiety Symptoms. |
|---|---|
| Authors: | Kirkpatrick, Alison, Serbin, Lisa A., Hastings, Paul D., Stack, Dale M. |
| Source: | Journal of Child & Family Studies. Jul2024, Vol. 33 Issue 7, p2170-2184. 15p. |
| Subjects: | Psychology of fathers, Parent attitudes, Attitudes of mothers, Anxiety, Emotions, Parenting, Longitudinal method, Social skills, Research methodology, Psychology of mothers, Motherhood, Socialization, Children |
| Abstract: | This study aimed to explore the dyadic influence of maternal and paternal perceptions of children's anxiety and parents' emotion socialization behavior across childhood. Participants were 206 mothers and fathers of preschool-aged children (91 females) recruited from a larger community-based longitudinal study and assessed when children were four, eight, and eleven years old. Anxiety was assessed using the Spence Children's Anxiety Scale, and parental tendencies to respond to children's anxiety with similar or more intense levels of anxiety (i.e., magnification) were assessed using the Responses to Child's Emotions Scale. Results from an actor-partner interdependence model analysis suggest (1) stability in maternal and paternal perceptions and behaviors across childhood; (2) paternal perceptions of children's anxiety at age four positively predict maternal and paternal magnifying behaviors at age eight; and (3) maternal magnifying behaviors at age eight positively predict fathers' magnifying behaviors at age eleven. Overall, results suggest that mothers and fathers may influence each other's responses to children's anxiety in different ways. Mothers appear to be influenced primarily by paternal perceptions of their children, whereas fathers appear to be influenced more directly by maternal behaviors. Highlights: Fathers who viewed more anxiety in their children at age 4 reported using more magnification when they were 8. Paternal perceptions of children's anxiety at age 4 predicted maternal magnifying behavior at age 8, but not vice versa. Maternal magnification behavior at age 8 predicted paternal magnifying behavior at age 11, but not vice versa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
| Copyright of Journal of Child & Family Studies is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.) | |
| Database: | Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection |
|
Full text is not displayed to guests.
Login for full access.
|
|
| Abstract: | This study aimed to explore the dyadic influence of maternal and paternal perceptions of children's anxiety and parents' emotion socialization behavior across childhood. Participants were 206 mothers and fathers of preschool-aged children (91 females) recruited from a larger community-based longitudinal study and assessed when children were four, eight, and eleven years old. Anxiety was assessed using the Spence Children's Anxiety Scale, and parental tendencies to respond to children's anxiety with similar or more intense levels of anxiety (i.e., magnification) were assessed using the Responses to Child's Emotions Scale. Results from an actor-partner interdependence model analysis suggest (1) stability in maternal and paternal perceptions and behaviors across childhood; (2) paternal perceptions of children's anxiety at age four positively predict maternal and paternal magnifying behaviors at age eight; and (3) maternal magnifying behaviors at age eight positively predict fathers' magnifying behaviors at age eleven. Overall, results suggest that mothers and fathers may influence each other's responses to children's anxiety in different ways. Mothers appear to be influenced primarily by paternal perceptions of their children, whereas fathers appear to be influenced more directly by maternal behaviors. Highlights: Fathers who viewed more anxiety in their children at age 4 reported using more magnification when they were 8. Paternal perceptions of children's anxiety at age 4 predicted maternal magnifying behavior at age 8, but not vice versa. Maternal magnification behavior at age 8 predicted paternal magnifying behavior at age 11, but not vice versa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
|---|---|
| ISSN: | 10621024 |
| DOI: | 10.1007/s10826-023-02676-z |
