The relations between parent and toddler emotion regulation

Abstract

Emotion regulation (ER) develops throughout childhood and contributes to a host of important outcomes, including social functioning, behavior, academic performance, and general health. The toddler years build the foundations for emotion regulation, with parents playing a key role in their children's emotional development. However, there is currently limited knowledge about the relations between parents’ own ER and how this may influence toddler ER. The current study investigated whether parental ER was related to toddler ER using a self-reported measure and observational measures. Data were drawn from Australian parents and their 18–36-month-old children recruited as part of a randomized controlled trial of a parenting program, Tuning in to Toddlers (n = 231). Measures included parent-report on Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS) and direct observation of toddler ER. For a smaller sample of parents, an observation measure of parent ER was also available (n = 73). Moderation analyses revealed that when parents reported more ER difficulties, older toddlers had poorer ER. Younger toddler's ER was not affected by parent-reported difficulties. For the smaller sample of parent observation, those observed to have better ER, also had toddlers that regulated emotions more effectively. The results suggest that parent ER, either in terms of difficulties or skills, has an impact on toddler ER.