Citation

Davies PT, Hentges RF, Sturge-Apple ML. Dev. Psychopathol. 2015; 28(2): 355-370.

Affiliation

University of Rochester.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2015, Cambridge University Press)

DOI

10.1017/S0954579415001078

PMID

26612113

Abstract

Guided by emotional security theory, this study examined the temperamental precursors of distinctive profiles of children's responses to interparental conflict. Participants included 243 children (M = 4.6 years) and their parents across two annual measurement occasions. Temperamental constructs of frustration proneness, approach, positive affect, activity level, and effortful control were assessed through multiple methods, informants, and contexts. Behavioral observations of children's responses to interparental conflict at each wave yielded four profiles: secure (i.e., efficiently address direct threat), mobilizing (i.e., vigilance to potential threat and social opportunities), dominant (i.e., directly defeat threat), and demobilizing (i.e., reduce salience as a target of hostility).

RESULTS supported hypotheses on the distinct constellations of temperament in predicting subsequent change in the four security profiles.

Language: en