Elsevier

Journal of Applied Developmental Psychology

Volume 23, Issue 4, November–December 2002, Pages 471-493
Journal of Applied Developmental Psychology

The role of emotionality and self-regulation in the appraisal–coping process: tests of direct and moderating effects

https://doi.org/10.1016/S0193-3973(02)00129-6Get rights and content

Abstract

Temperament negative emotionality, positive emotionality, and self-regulation were investigated as predictors of children's appraisal and coping styles and adjustment problems in a community sample of children (8–12 years, N=101). Mother and child reports of negative life events, temperament, and adjustment problems were obtained, and children reported on their threat and positive appraisals, active and avoidant coping styles. Negative emotionality was positively associated with threat appraisals, avoidant coping, and adjustment problems above the effects of negative life events. Self-regulation predicted more active coping and lower adjustment problems. Contrary to prediction, positive emotionality was not related to positive appraisals or active coping, but predicted lower adjustment problems independently of those variables. The results suggest that negative emotionality engenders a style of appraisal and coping that exacerbates the effects of stress, whereas self-regulation may mitigate the effects of stress on children's adjustment problems.

Section snippets

Stress, appraisal, and coping

Stress is shown consistently to be associated with children's adjustment problems (e.g., Compas, 1987, Dubow & Tisak, 1989, Jackson & Warren, 2000). Stress can be operationalized in a number of ways including major life events (e.g., parental divorce, death of a family member; Sandler, Wolchik, Braver, & Fogas, 1991), moderately stressful events (e.g., having trouble in school or with a sibling; Jackson & Warren, 2000), and can include events that may reflect either positive or negative changes

Temperament and stress responses

Temperament has been defined as relatively stable, physiologically based individual differences in reactivity and self-regulation Rothbart, 1981, Rothbart, 1989. Reactivity represents two independent emotion systems that result in the arousal of positive and negative affect. Evidence of distinct dimensions of positive and negative emotionality has been found across the life span Capaldi & Rothbart, 1992, Derryberry & Rothbart, 1988, Rothbart, 1981, Watson & Tellegen, 1985. Negative emotionality

Participants

This study utilized a community sample of 101 third through fifth grade children (M age=9.9 years, range=7.8–11.9 years) and their female primary caregivers. Participants were recruited through the children's public school classrooms. Schools were selected for recruitment to represent a variety of sociodemographic characteristics of the Seattle, WA urban area. Information forms were sent home with children, and parents were asked to indicate their interest in participating and return the form

Correlations

The intercorrelations among the study variables are presented in Table 2. Child age was negatively related to threat appraisal and avoidant coping, with younger children endorsing greater use of these strategies than older children. None of the study variables was related to child gender. The number of negative life events was positively correlated with negative emotionality, threat and positive appraisal, and avoidant coping. Negative life events was negatively correlated with self-regulation

Discussion

This study examined the role of emotionality and self-regulation in predicting appraisal and coping styles and adjustment to stress. The importance of assessing distinct aspects of children's reactions to stress and regulation of those reactions has been advocated (Compas et al., 2001). By examining emotionality, self-regulation, appraisal, and coping as distinct variables, this study was able to investigate temperament as a predictor of children's appraisal and coping styles. Although it has

Acknowledgements

This research was supported by a Royalties Research Fund Award from the University of Washington. The authors wish to thank the families who participated in this study, Lara Embry and Erica Kovacs for their contribution to this manuscript.

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