Abstract
We explored whether young children exhibit subtypes of behavioral sequences during sibling interaction. Ten-minute, free-play observations of over 300 sibling dyads were coded for positivity, negativity and disengagement. The data were analyzed using growth mixture modeling (GMM). Younger (18-month-old) children’s temporal behavioral sequences showed a harmonious (53%) and a casual (47%) class. Older (approximately four-year-old) children’s behavior was more differentiated revealing a harmonious (25%), a deteriorating (31%), a recovery (22%) and a casual (22%) class. A more positive maternal affective climate was associated with more positive patterns. Siblings’ sequential behavioral patterns tended to be complementary rather than reciprocal in nature. The study illustrates a novel use of GMM and makes a theoretical contribution by showing that young children exhibit distinct types of temporal behavioral sequences that are related to parenting processes.
Highlights
Young siblings interact with one another frequently and their interactions have been linked to children’s social cognition, learning, friendship quality and well-being [1]
In this paper we present growth mixture modeling (GMM) as an alternative methodology to sequential analysis, but one that is sensitive to the sequential nature of unfolding interactions
Maternal sensitivity and maternal reflective capacity were significantly correlated with one another (r = 0.30, p
Summary
Young siblings interact with one another frequently and their interactions have been linked to children’s social cognition, learning, friendship quality and well-being [1]. Sibling relationships serve as a training ground for children, shaping the nature of their social exchanges [2], [3], [1]. Research has identified aggregate processes in the sibling relationship (e.g., overall negativity or positivity) that are important in predicting later relationship functioning and child wellbeing. We have little information about moment-to-moment processes in sibling interaction. The first goal of this study was to use a methodology, new to sibling research, to identify common sequential patterns during a 10-minute interaction between 18-month-old children and their older siblings (mean age of 4.5 years). We examined the extent to which sequences of interaction between siblings are reciprocal or complementary
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