Citation

Melson GF, Kim JR. Early Child Res. Q. 1990; 5(1): 117-134.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1990, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/0885-2006(90)90010-X

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

To determine the role of proximal and distal factors in the separations and reunions of preschoolers and their parents, 40 children, aged 26 to 62 months, were observed with their parents during two separations and two reunions at nursery school. Proximal factors included the immediate behaviors of each interactant, and distal factors included child age and sex, extent of separation/ reunion experience outside of nursery school, and parental ideas about the child's separation and reunion behaviors. Parent and child pairs behaved in reciprocal and complementary ways, indicating mutual influence. However, parents as a group were more affectionate and talkative than were children, and children were more oriented toward play. Extent of other separation/reunion experiences and parental ideas primarily affected parental behavior.