White and Black parents' emotion coaching beliefs: Differential associations with preschooler's behavioral problem tendencies.

Abstract

Parents' emotion coaching beliefs, a validated construct in majority White samples emphasizing the value of expressing and teaching about emotion, generally predict positive outcomes among White children. However, a racially and culturally sensitive emotion socialization model suggests a need for further understanding of this construct and potential differential outcomes among different racial groups. This study investigated three-way interactions among parental emotion coaching beliefs, toddlers' baseline respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA), and child race (Black or White), in predicting preschoolers' behavioral problem tendencies 1 year later. Participants included 204 children (140 White and 64 Black) and their families, recruited from low-income, rural areas. When children were 2, child baseline RSA was collected, and both parents answered questionnaires concerning their emotion coaching beliefs. When children were 3, mothers answered questions about child behavioral problem tendencies. Path analyses revealed a three-way interaction among paternal emotion coaching beliefs, child baseline RSA, and race, in predicting child internalizing tendencies 1 year later. In particular, among Black children, paternal emotion coaching beliefs showed a double-edged effect. It predicted lower internalizing tendencies when child baseline RSA was low, but higher internalizing tendencies when child baseline RSA was high. These associations were not found among White children. Maternal emotion coaching beliefs predicted lower internalizing tendencies regardless of child race and RSA. Findings were discussed in the context of an expanded emotion socialization model, with significant implications for furthering conceptualization and clinical practices. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).