Shared positive emotion during parent-toddler play and parent and child well-being in Mexican origin families

Abstract

ObjectiveThe present study aimed to examine the association between mother-child and father-child shared positive emotion and parent self-reported parenting stress, as well as parent rated child socio-emotional adjustment. MethodData were collected from 107 Mexican origin families with a toddler age child (M = 17.49 months; 55 boys, 52 girls). During home visits parents completed questionnaires concerning demographic characteristics, cultural beliefs, parent well-being, and children’s socio-emotional adjustment. In addition, mother-child and father-child dyads were videotaped during separate 15-min, semistructured play sessions, from which parent and child expression of emotion was coded for shared positive affect. ResultsData revealed that parent endorsement of Familismo and Simpatia cultural beliefs was associated with higher levels of shared positive affect during parent-child interaction. In turn, mother-child shared positive affect was significantly associated with lower maternal self-reported parenting stress. There was no association between father-child shared positive emotion and father reported parenting stress. Nor was there an association between parent-child shared positive affect and parent rated child social competence. However, as predicted high levels of shared positive affect in both mother-child and father-child dyads was associated with lower parent-rated externalizing behavior.