Although there is relative consensus in the literature regarding associations between certain emotion socialization (ES) strategies and youth behavioral health, there is very limited research from a person-centered perspective. To address this gap, the current study examined patterns of ES strategies in families and explored predictors and youth outcomes associated with those patterns. An economically-diverse sample of 229 predominately White mothers and fathers of youth aged 3-12 years was recruited online for a longitudinal study. Latent profile analysis was used to determine the optimal number of family clusters with similar ES profiles. Model fit supported a four-class model, which consisted of an Emotion Coaching profile, characterized by the lowest levels of putatively labeled unsupportive ES practices and the highest levels of putatively labeled supportive ES practices, a Moderate profile characterized by moderate levels of both unsupportive and supportive ES practices, a Limited Engagement profile characterized by low levels of both unsupportive and supportive ES practices, and an Emotion Dismissing profile characterized by the highest levels of unsupportive ES practices and the lowest levels of supportive ES practices. Cross-sectional and longitudinal differences were observed across the ES profiles with regard to demographic and parent emotional competence predictors and youth outcomes. The current study extends the literature on ES by providing evidence on how distinct ES profiles differentially predict youth behavioral health outcomes. Findings also underscore the importance of examining parent emotional competence as a catalyst for adaptive change in the family system.
Objective
To explore shame and guilt as potential pathways linking recalled emotion socialization (ES) parenting behaviors during childhood with emerging adult outcomes.
Background
Although ES has been associated with youth outcomes, more research is needed to uncover variables that may explain such associations. Additionally, the present study addresses limitations of extant literature by (a) exploring ES within the context of recalled discrete expressions of fear, anger, and sadness; (b) indexing both maternal and paternal ES responses; and (c) considering the possible moderating role of emerging adult gender.
Method
A sample of 206 undergraduate and graduate students completed questionnaires asking them to recall parental ES during childhood and to report on current shame‐ and guilt‐proneness, depressive symptomology, and compassion for others. Following preliminary analyses, path analysis and the Monte Carlo method for assessing indirect effects were used to evaluate the statistical significance of the indirect effects in the path models.
Results
Data suggest that shame and guilt help to explain the associations between certain parental ES practices and emerging adult outcomes. Associations between variables differed when taking into account discrete emotion expressed, parent gender, and participant gender.
Conclusion
Results highlight the complexity of ES processes and the importance of guilt and shame in understanding relations between ES and young adult outcomes. Important associations may be obscured in the ES literature by the common practice of collapsing discrete emotions into global indices and the tendency to primarily investigate mothers' ES practices.
Implications
A more nuanced understanding of ES processes can contribute to the development of targeted and effective ES prevention and intervention programs.
This study addressed limitations of emotion socialization (ES) research and is the first toexplore socialization of positive emotion (PE) in 20 single African American (AA) mothers and their adolescents. Considering the dearth of research on ES with AA adolescents, an inductive, qualitative approach was warranted. A portion of mothers reported elevated depressive symptoms, which is important given their prevalence in AA women and that very few studies of ES have considered parental mental health. Although PE is gaining warranted attention in the scientific community based on recent data linking it to mental and physical health, PE has traditionally been a cornerstone of AA interactional style. The results suggest that AA mothers use complementary and contradictory responses to youth PE, often sharing and expanding, other times diminishing or teaching lessons. The
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