Understanding of self and maternal warmth predict later self-regulation in toddlers

Abstract

Research on the development of self-regulation has focused primarily on the roles of maternal behavior and attention, but cognitive understanding of the self is also likely to contribute, as is exposure to maternal depression. In this study toddlers' understanding of self-as-object and understanding of agency were assessed behaviorally at both 20 and 27 months ( N = 100). Maternal warmth during interactions was also observed at both ages. Half of the toddlers had been exposed to maternal depression. At 34 months toddlers' self-regulation was assessed behaviorally. As expected, toddlers' early understanding of the self (both self-as-object and agency) as well as maternal warmth predicted self-regulation later in toddlerhood. Maternal depression, however, was not associated with self-regulation. These findings provide empirical support for the theoretical construct of the self-system and suggest that early cognitive understanding of the self enables toddlers to better regulate their behavior.

Prospective relations between maternal autonomy support and child executive functioning: Investigating the mediating role of child language ability

“…However, in light of the increasingly documented impact of environmental input on children's brain development (Chugani et al, 2001;Marshall & Fox, 2004) and the protracted postnatal development of prefrontal areas in particular (Duncan, 2001;Paus et al, 1999), some authors have suggested that the study of environmental influences, particularly early parent-child relationships, is likely to be useful in understanding individual differences in children's EF (Carlson, 2003;Fonagy & Target, 2002;Glaser, 2000) and related higher mental functions (Fernyhough, 1996;Fernyhough, 2008). Indirect support for the putative role of parent-child relationships in EF development stems from studies that have found parenting to relate to constructs bearing many similarities to some components of EF, labeled (for instance) as self-regulation (Jennings et al, 2008;LeCuyer & Houck, 2006) or effortful control (Kochanska et al, 2000;Poehlmann et al, 2010), or referring to child performance on cognitive tasks similar to those used to measure EF (Diaz, Neal, & Vachio, 1991). In addition, a very recent body of research is beginning to provide direct support for the idea that parenting plays an important role in the development of child EF per se (e.g., Bernier et al, 2010;Bernier, Carlson, Deschênes, & Matte-Gagné, in press;Bibok, Carpendale, & Müller, 2009;Hughes & Ensor, 2009;Landry, Miller-Loncar, Smith, & Swank, 2002).…”

Psychological Distress Experienced by Parents of Young Children With Congenital Heart Defects: A Comprehensive Review of Literature

“…Toddlers acquire autonomy when caregivers allow them to make their own decisions, to increase their self-regulation (Forman, 2007;Jennings et al, 2008), and to develop their own sense of agency (Pope-Edwards & Liu, 2002). Further, the development of self, typically manifested by an increased focus on one's own will, occurs during the toddler years (Pope-Edwards & Liu).…”

Self-Recognition and Self-Regulation: The Relationship with Socialization Trajectories and Children's Sex

“…On selfregulation, our results sustain evidences in the literature with children in this age group, indicating that girls show greater ability to self-regulation than boys (Kochanska & Aksan, 1995;Kochanska et al, 2001;Moilanen et al, 2009). As Jennings et al (2008) had registered in their study, it has been also found that there is a relationship between selfrecognition and self-regulation, which seems to indicate that these two aspects of self-awareness and social interaction are part of a more general process of development.…”

“…Results of the study of Jennings et al (2008) indicate that the most important extra-individual factor in the development of self-regulation is the expression of maternal affection. More affectionate mothers favor the development of self-regulation.…”