Patterns of Parental Reactions to Their Children’s Negative Emotions: A Cluster Analysis with a Clinical Sample

Ana Isabel Pereira, Catarina Santos, Luísa Barros, Magda Sofia Roberto, Joana Rato, Ana Prata and Cristina Marques
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Ana Isabel Pereira: CICPSI, Faculdade de Psicologia, Universidade de Lisboa, Alameda da Universidade, 1649-013 Lisboa, Portugal
Catarina Santos: Hospital D. Estefânia, Centro Hospitalar Lisboa Central, 1169-045 Lisboa, Portugal
Luísa Barros: CICPSI, Faculdade de Psicologia, Universidade de Lisboa, Alameda da Universidade, 1649-013 Lisboa, Portugal
Magda Sofia Roberto: CICPSI, Faculdade de Psicologia, Universidade de Lisboa, Alameda da Universidade, 1649-013 Lisboa, Portugal
Joana Rato: Faculdade de Psicologia, Universidade de Lisboa, Alameda da Universidade, 1649-013 Lisboa, Portugal
Ana Prata: Hospital D. Estefânia, Centro Hospitalar Lisboa Central, 1169-045 Lisboa, Portugal
Cristina Marques: Hospital D. Estefânia, Centro Hospitalar Lisboa Central, 1169-045 Lisboa, Portugal

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 11, 1-14

Abstract: Parents’ emotion socialization practices are an important source of influence in the development of children’s emotional competencies This study examined parental reactions to child negative emotions in a clinical sample using a cluster analysis approach and explored the associations between clusters of parents’ reactions and children’s and parents’ adjustment. The sample comprised 80 parents of Portuguese children (aged 3–13 years) attending a child and adolescent psychiatry unit. Measures to assess parental reactions to children’s negative emotions, parents’ psychopathological symptoms, parents’ emotion dysregulation, and children’s adjustment were administered to parents. Model-based cluster analysis resulted in three clusters: low unsupportive, high supportive, and inconsistent reactions clusters. These clusters differed significantly in terms of parents’ psychopathological symptoms, emotion dysregulation, and children’s adjustment. A pattern characterized by high supportive reactions to the child’s emotions was associated with higher levels of children’s adjustment. On the other hand, an inconsistent reactions pattern was associated with the worst indicators of children’s adjustment and parental emotion dysregulation. These results suggest the importance of supporting parents of children with emotional and behavioural problems so that they can be more responsive to their children’s emotional manifestations.

Keywords: child externalizing and internalizing problems; cluster analysis; parental reactions to children’s negative emotions; parent adjustment (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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