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Journal of Child and Family Studies

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06-03-2019 | Original Paper

Understanding of Emotions and Empathy: Predictors of Positive Parenting with Preschoolers in Economically Stressed Families

Auteurs: E. Stephanie Krauthamer Ewing, Joanna Herres, Katherine E. Dilks, Forogh Rahim, Christopher J. Trentacosta

Gepubliceerd in: Journal of Child and Family Studies | Uitgave 5/2019

Abstract

Objectives

This study investigated predictors of sensitive and responsive parenting of 3- to 5-year old children within the context of a small urban Head Start system, serving mostly African American and Latino families (N = 86 dyads; 91% African American).

Methods

Mothers and their children participated in a brief sadness induction (viewing a video clip validated for sadness induction in children), and mothers were subsequently asked to engage their child in discussion about the video. Mother-child discussions were videotaped and parenting behaviors and maternal affect were coded by trained raters. Controlling for maternal verbal ability, maternal facilitative emotional intelligence (understanding the adaptive functions of emotions) and aspects of maternal empathy (self-focused vs other focused emotional resonance) were examined as predictors of observed parenting with children during the interaction task.

Results

Higher levels of maternal facilitative emotional intelligence and lower levels of maternal empathic personal distress predicted sensitive and responsive parenting (maternal sensitivity; positive regard toward child), even after controlling for maternal verbal ability. Higher levels of maternal empathic personal distress predicted harsh and intrusive parenting (intrusive behaviors; expressions of anger and frustration).

Conclusions

Results contribute to knowledge pertaining to predictors of parenting, particularly predictors of positive parenting. The results support the important and nuanced role of parental empathy in influencing parenting behaviors and point to facilitative emotional intelligence as an additional correlate of sensitive and responsive parenting. Measuring and investigating growth in parents’ facilitative emotional intelligence and empathic distress tolerance could help inform innovative new approaches to studying change processes in various parenting support programs.

vorige artikel The Role of Shame, Self-criticism and Early Emotional Memories in Adolescents’ Paranoid Ideation

volgende artikel Acculturation, Social Support, and Maternal Parenting Stress among U.S. Hispanic Mothers

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Titel: Understanding of Emotions and Empathy: Predictors of Positive Parenting with Preschoolers in Economically Stressed Families
Auteurs: E. Stephanie Krauthamer Ewing
Joanna Herres
Katherine E. Dilks
Forogh Rahim
Christopher J. Trentacosta
Publicatiedatum: 06-03-2019
Uitgeverij: Springer US
Gepubliceerd in: Journal of Child and Family Studies / Uitgave 5/2019
Print ISSN: 1062-1024
Elektronisch ISSN: 1573-2843
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10826-018-01303-6

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