Parental Self-Regulation and Engagement in Emotion Socialization: A Systematic Review

Parental emotion-related socialization behaviors (ERSBs)-including reactions to emotions, emotional expressiveness, and emotion-related discussion-can foster or hinder children and adolescents' self-regulation development. Toward a goal of identifying specific mechanisms by which children and a...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Psychological bulletin 2024-02, Vol.150 (2), p.154-191
Main Authors: Edler, Katherine, Valentino, Kristin
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adolescent
Adolescent Development
Adolescent Psychopathology
Child
Child development
Childhood Development
Emotional Regulation
Emotionality (Personality)
Emotions
Executive control
Executive function
Human
Humans
Parental Role
Parenting
Parents
Parents & parenting
Psychopathology
Self regulation
Self report
Self-Control
Socialization
Systematic review
Temperament
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Summary:Parental emotion-related socialization behaviors (ERSBs)-including reactions to emotions, emotional expressiveness, and emotion-related discussion-can foster or hinder children and adolescents' self-regulation development. Toward a goal of identifying specific mechanisms by which children and adolescents develop skillful, adaptive self-regulation or, conversely, self-regulation difficulties and psychopathology, it is crucial to identify processes that shape and maintain parental engagement in ERSBs. This present study is a systematic review of the associations between parental self-regulation and three different ERSBs (reactions to emotions, emotional expressiveness, and emotion-related discussion), building upon research that posits parental top-down self-regulation (i.e., emotion regulation, executive function, and effortful control) is critical for parenting behavior. Fifty-three studies were identified for inclusion. All but four of these studies were cross-sectional, limiting conclusions that could be drawn regarding whether parental self-regulation is associated with ERSBs over time. Studies used a wide range of methods (e.g., self-report, physiological assessment, observer ratings) to assess both parental self-regulation and ERSBs, rendering a meta-analysis premature. Across studies included in the review, parental self-regulation was positively associated with supportive ERSBs and negatively associated with unsupportive ERSBs. Future directions for research and implications for translational efforts are discussed. Public Significance Statement This systematic review indicates that parental self-regulation is cross-sectionally associated with parents' engagement in emotion-related socialization behaviors. Findings also highlight avenues for more rigorous research to evaluate potential causal and longitudinal effects of parental self-regulation on emotion-related socialization behaviors. Understanding parental factors that may facilitate or hinder youth self-regulation development has important implications for creating and improving programs and policies that aim to support psychological functioning among parents and youth. To the extent that there are causal links between parental self-regulation and emotion-related socialization behaviors, and between emotion-related socialization behaviors and youth self-regulation, these mechanisms could be targeted to protect against the development of youth self-regulation difficulties.
ISSN:0033-2909
1939-1455
DOI:10.1037/bul0000423