ERIC Number: EJ734049
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2005-Oct
Pages: 10
Abstractor: Author
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0022-006X
EISSN: N/A
Mediated Paths to Overreactive Discipline: Mothers' Experienced Emotion, Appraisals, and Physiological Responses
Lorber, Michael F.; O'Leary, Susan G.
Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, v73 n5 p972-981 Oct 2005
The present investigation was designed to evaluate whether mothers' emotion experience, autonomic reactivity, and negatively biased appraisals of their toddlers' behavior and toddlers' rates of misbehavior predicted overreactive discipline in a mediated fashion. Ninety-three community mother-toddler dyads were observed in a laboratory interaction, after which mothers' emotion experience and appraisals of their toddler's behavior were measured via a video-recall procedure. Autonomic physiology and overreactive discipline were measured during the interactions. Mothers' negatively biased appraisals mediated the relation between emotion experience and overreactive discipline. Heart rate reactivity predicted discipline independent of this mediation. Toddler misbehavior appeared to be an entry point into the above process. Interventions that more actively target physiological and experiential components of mothers' emotion may further reduce their overreactive discipline.
Descriptors: Parent Child Relationship, Mothers, Toddlers, Discipline, Emotional Response, Physiology, Behavior Problems, Parenting Styles, Intervention
American Psychological Association. Journals Department, 750 First Street, NE, Washington, DC 20002-4242. Tel: 800-374-2721; Tel: 202-336-5540; Fax: 202-336-5549; e-mail: journals@apa.org; Web site: http://www.apa.org/journals.
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Descriptive
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A