Mutual emotion regulation and the stability of conduct problems between preschool and early school age

• Published in: Development and psychopathology Vol. 15; no. 1; p. 1
• Main Authors: Cole, Pamela M, Teti, Laureen O, Zahn-Waxler, Carolyn
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01-03-2003
• Subjects: Affect; Child; Child, Preschool; Conduct Disorder - therapy; Cooperative Behavior; Female; Humans; Male; Mothers - psychology; Self Efficacy; Surveys and Questionnaires
• ISSN: 0954-5794
• DOI: 10.1017/S0954579403000014

Mutual regulation of anger plays a role in both healthy adjustment and mental health problems. This study of 85 preschooler boys and girls examined mother-preschooler anger regulation during a frustration in relation to the child's preschool and school age problem status. Less mutual positive emotion, more mutual anger, and more emotional mismatches than other dyads characterized dyads with a stable conduct problem child. Maternal emotion predicted school age conduct problems, particularly for boys. Maternal emotion also predicted stability versus improvement of symptoms. The emotional dynamics of mother-preschooler angry exchanges may redirect girls' conduct problems and may contribute to the stability of boys' conduct problems.