Emotional exchange in mother-child dyads: Stability, mutual influence, and associations with maternal depression and child problem behavior.

Abstract

This study examined the stability of the child and maternal affective expression and maternal responsiveness and the mutual influence of child and maternal expression of emotion. The authors tested whether maternal depression and child problem behavior were associated with the pattern of emotional exchange within the mother-child dyads. The sample consisted of 69 mother-child dyads (children aged 2-5 years), with 32 of the mothers having childhood-onset depression. Mothers were mostly stable in their affective expression (positive and negative) and responsiveness, whereas children were only stable in positive expression. Within the dyads, mothers seemed to play a more important role in regulating children's later emotional expression. Maternal depression was associated with concurrent maternal responsiveness and their reduced positive expression over time. Results are discussed in relation to the differential function of parental general positivity and responsiveness and the interpersonal transmission of emotional problems.

Families that fire together smile together: Resting state connectome similarity and daily emotional synchrony in parent-child dyads

“…These findings are consistent with recent theoretical work suggesting that more similar neural states allow individuals to connect and be attuned to their environment in a more harmonious way (Wheatley et al, 2012). Importantly, we also found that the degree of neural similarity in parent-child dyads promotes youths’ psychological adjustment, consistent with previous evidence showing that dyadic similarity and synchrony is a key factor in promoting youths’ positive adjustment throughout development (Barber et al, 2001; Boyum and Parke, 1995; Carson and Parke, 1996; Feldman, 2007b; Feng et al, 2007; Harrist and Waugh, 2002; Lindsey et al, 2008). Our findings indicate that children and parents’ emotional connection occurs at the neural systems level, and highlights the brain’s functional plasticity (i.e., tuned functional architecture of brain) derived from interpersonal experiences in supporting youths’ positive adjustment.…”

Parental Depressive Symptoms and Adolescent Adjustment: A Prospective Test of an Explanatory Model for the Role of Marital Conflict

“…Depressed adults exhibit heightened negative and low positive emotionality (Clark & Watson, 1991; Perils et al, 2005). Prior studies have indicated that negative emotional expressiveness in depressed adults is linked with children's dysregulation and maladjustment (Feng, Shaw, Skuban, & Lane, 2007; Goodman, Adamson, Riniti, & Cole, 1994). Parental negative emotionality is also related to negative child and family functioning (e.g., Fosco & Grych, 2007; Halberstadt, 1983; Laible, 2006; Wong, McElwain, & Halberstadt, 2009).…”

Community implementation outcomes of Attachment and Biobehavioral Catch-up

“…Parents are also supported in taking delight in their children, or responding to their children with genuine positive affect and enjoyment, for example, smiling and laughing in response to children's behavior. Although data are more limited in linking delight to child outcomes, research on similar constructs, such as shared positive affect (e.g., Kochanska & Afkan, 1995) and maternal responsiveness to child positive affect (e.g., Feng, Shaw, Skuban & Lane, 2007), suggest that delight may also play a role in children's development of behavioral and emotional regulation. Finally, parents are helped to recognize and inhibit intrusive or threatening behaviors that could be frightening to their children.…”