Emotion Regulation and Attachment: Unpacking Two Constructs and Their Association

Abstract

This study examined the association between the security of attachment and processes influencing the development of emotion regulation in young children. A sample of 73 4 1/2-year-olds and their mothers were observed in an emotion regulation probe involving mild frustration for children, and mothers and children were later independently interviewed about how the child had felt. Fewer than half the mothers agreed with children’s self-reports in the emotion they attributed to children (a lower rate than the concordance of observer ratings with children’s self-reports), and higher mother-child concordance was associated with secure attachment and mother’s beliefs about the importance of attending to and accepting their own emotions. Mother-child conversations about recent events evoking children’s negative emotion were also analyzed. Children were less likely to avoid conversing about negative feelings when they were in secure attachments and when mothers were more validating of the child’s perspective. Children’s greater understanding of negative emotions was also significantly associated with higher mother-child concordance and less child conversational avoidance. Taken together, these findings underscore the multiple influences of attachment on emotion regulation and the importance of children’s emotion understanding to these processes.

Quality of Early Maternal–Child Relationship and Risk of Adolescent Obesity

“…However, attachment security reflects the development of children's emotion regulation and stress response. 7,8 These capacities could influence adiposity through their effects on appetite, sleep, and activity. [9][10][11] Despite the potential of attachment security to affect the neurodevelopment of physiologic systems regulating weight, no studies have examined the association between attachment security and obesity beyond the preschool age.…”

Estilos de Apego y Dificultades de Regulación Emocional en Estudiantes Universitarios

“…Al respecto, se ha reportado de manera sistemática que quienes poseen estilos de apego seguro tendrían menores dificultades para regular afectos negativos, mayor facilidad para expresar las emociones y mejores niveles de adaptación al estrés que quienes poseen estilos inseguros (e.g., Brenning & Braet, 2013;Cabral, Matos, Beyers & Soenens, 2012;Cooper, Shaver & Collins, 1998;Fox & Calkins, 2003;Kerr, Melley, Travea & Pole, 2003;Pascuzzo, Cyr & Moss, 2013;Waters et al, 2010).…”

“…En algunos estudios incluso se ha hecho equivalente el concepto de regulación emocional al de afrontamiento (e.g., Pascuzzo et al, 2013;Waters et al, 2010), pese a ser constructos teóricamente relacionados, pero distintos entre sí (Cabral et al, 2012).…”

Regulación emocional en niños y adolescentes: conceptos, procesos e influencias

“…Mainly during the first year of life, parents are responsible for identifying and continuously monitoring the emotional needs of the baby, soothing her states of stress, maintaining stable routines and offering help in difficult situations, among others (e.g., Cole et al, 2004;Cole, 2014;Morris et al, 2007;Thompson, 1994Thompson, , 2011Thompson & Meyer, 2007;Zeman et al, 2006). During the second year of age, language development is presented as a tool that allows the child to name internal states, to request help from others, and to modify her environment at will (e.g., Pons, Harris, & Rosnay, 2004;Raikes & Thompson, 2008;Thompson & Lagattuta, 2006;Waters, Virmani, Thompson, Meyer, Raikes, & Jochem, 2010). Around this same period there are important advances in the development of awareness of others and from this point emotions begin to have a social dimension.…”

“…Nine-year-old children have realized that positive emotions, such as joy, are well received in social settings while negative emotions such as anger and sadness are associated with shameful behaviors that are required to be kept under control (Pons et al, 2004). At the end of childhood, ER processes are also influenced by cultural expectations (Pons et al, 2004;Raikes & Thompson, 2008;Thompson & Lagattuta, 2006;Waters et al, 2010).…”