Loading...
6 results
Search Results
Now showing 1 - 6 of 6
- Respect and sympathy in Portuguese preschoolers and middle-school childrenPublication . Costa Martins, Mariana; Cardoso, Evlyne Martins; Pires, E.; Fernandes, M.; Fernandes, C.; Malti, Tina; Veríssimo, ManuelaAbstract: Recent research has revealed theorical and empirical links between respect and socioemotional outcomes such as moral emotions and prosociality, as well as negative associations with aggression. The ability to sympathize, feel concern, and be aware of other’s states has also been hypothesized to influence how children conceptualize respect and evaluate behaviors as worthy of respect. The development of respect derives from the ability to recognize others as individuals with unique needs, feelings, and desires. Similarly, like respect, sympathy has also been associated with more altruistic and kinder interactions. The present study aims to explore the link between these two socioemotional constructs – respect and sympathy – while considering possible cultural nuances. Fifty-three children answered the Respect Interview which delved into their conceptualizations, evaluations, and reasonings behind respect (the concept, expressions, and examples of feeling respect from others), and the Sympathy Scale. Parents also reported on their children’s sympathy and sociodemographic data. A positive effect between sympathy and respect was only partially confirmed. Sympathy revealed a positive effect on prosocial conceptualizations of respect (χ2=3.85, p<.05;b=.90). In contrast, children who used authority themes to define expressions of respect, were less sympathetic [t(51)=-1.86, p<.05]. Sociodemographic differences were considered and discussed when analysing both variables. Our results are in line with previous literature and contribute to knowledge in this field by replicating the study in a different culture and age range.
- Associations between secure base script knowledge in early childhood and perceived quality of attachment in middle childhoodPublication . Fernandes, C.; Fernandes, M.; Antunes, Marta; Santos, António J.; Vaughn, Brian; Verissimo, ManuelaAbstract: Previous studies suggest that mental representations of attachment can show moderate stability across childhood but none of these considered the child’s use of the Secure Base Script (SBS). This study tested the longitudinal stability of attachment representations from early to middle childhood, providing data that will allow us to determine whether the SBS score behaves like other attachment measures for early childhood in this regard. A sample of 70 Portuguese preschool children (36 girls) was assessed regarding their access to and use of the SBS when producing narratives relevant to attachment themes (e.g., separation, fear of ambiguous threat) at age 5 years using the Attachment Story Completion Task. Follow-up assessments were obtained at 8 and 9 years of age using the Kerns Security Scale. Security scores for both parents were obtained from the child in both years. All crosstime correlations were positive and significant. Subsequent tests on correlation magnitudes for mothers vs. fathers were not significant. Finally, correlations for mother/father security scores were significant at both age levels. Our findings indicate that children’s access to and use of the SBS in early childhood does predict their perceived quality of attachment with parents in middle childhood. Overall, our results indicate that access to and use of SBS in young children’s attachment-relevant narratives is a valid and potentially productive measure.
- Caregivers’ responses to children’s negative emotions: Associations with preschoolers’ executive functioningPublication . Fernandes, C.; Santos, A. F.; Fernandes, M.; Veríssimo, Manuela; Santos, António J.There is a lack of knowledge regarding the connection between parental emotional responsiveness and children’s executive functioning (EF). This study aimed to explore the relations between caregivers’ reactions to their children’s distress and children’s EF. Mothers of 136 preschoolers reported their reactions to their children’s negative emotions using the Coping with Children’s Negative Emotions Scale. Children’s EF was assessed through the mothers and teachers’ reports using the Behavioral Inventory of Executive Functioning for Preschool Children. Results showed that the mothers’ perceived use of negative emotional regulation responses (i.e., punitive and minimizing reactions) was associated with lower levels of EF in children, as reported by both mothers and teachers. The association between the mothers’ use of positive emotional regulation responses (i.e., problem-focused, emotion-focused, and expressive encouragement reactions) and children’s EF was not significant. Multiple regression analyses revealed that the mothers’ use of negative emotional regulation responses accounted for significant proportions of variance in EF indexes. These findings suggest that parental socialization of emotion could be important for children’s EF. Specifically, caregivers’ negative emotional regulation responses to children’s distress may serve as a risk factor for poorer EF in children. Efforts to improve children’s EF may be more effective when parental emotional responsiveness to their distress is considered.
- Uma análise exploratória das relações entre as representações de vinculação do pai e o seu envolvimento em atividades práticas e lúdicasPublication . Monteiro, Lígia Maria Santos; Maia, Rita; Fernandes, C.; Fernandes, M.; Antunes, Marta; Veríssimo, ManuelaEste estudo teve como principal objetivo explorar as relações entre as representações de vinculação (script de base segura) do pai, e o seu envolvimento em atividades práticas (relacionadas com a gestão e cuidados à criança) e em atividades com características lúdicas (brincadeira/lazer). Participaram 62 famílias nucleares, com crianças entre os 2 e os 5 anos, de estatuto socioeconómico médio e de duplo- -rendimento. De modo a analisar os scripts de base segura utilizou-se as Narrativas de Representação da Vinculação em Adultos, aplicadas individualmente ao pai, tendo a mãe e o pai preenchido, de modo independente, um questionário sobre o envolvimento parental. Os resultados indicam que os pais possuem e acedem ao script de base segura em contextos onde este é elicitado; que participam mais nas atividades lúdicas, do que nas práticas; e que pais com valores mais elevados de script adulto/ /criança se encontram mais envolvidos nas atividades práticas, mesmo quando a idade da criança e as habilitações do pai são controladas.
- The relationships between empathy and social behaviours in middle childhoodPublication . Pires, Eva; Fernandes, M.; Fernandes, C.; Verissimo, ManuelaAbstract: Concern for others’ welfare is part of normative development. However, some children respond to others’ distress with concern and helpful approaches, while others respond with suspicion, hostility, indifference. Although the literature around empathy has increased over the years, there isn’t a consensus over its associations with prosociality and internalizing or externalizing problems. A sample of 199 children (50.8% girls) between 10 and 15 years (M=12.05; SD=0.98), reported on their empathy and social behaviours using the QACE – Questionnaire to Assess Affective and Cognitive Empathy (Zoll & Enz, 2010) and the SDQ – Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (Goodman, 1997) respectively. Our results indicate that girls were more prosocial and empathic, but also presented higher levels of internalizing problems, compared to boys. Affective but not cognitive empathy was related with internalizing problems. Cognitive empathy was significantly related with prosocial behaviour. No significant relations between empathy and externalizing behaviours were found.
- Concordância entre dados antropométricos reportados vs. medidos e relação com as práticas parentais alimentares em idade pré-escolarPublication . Santos, A. F.; Fernandes, C.; Cardia, Sara; Fernandes, M.; Bost, Kelly K.; Veríssimo, M.Resumo: O presente estudo teve como objetivo analisar a concordância entre os dados antropométricos das crianças (peso, altura, respetivos IMC e z-score de IMC calculados) reportados pelos pais e medidos objetivamente pelos investigadores, bem como a sua relação com as práticas parentais alimentares. Participaram no estudo 71 famílias, com crianças entre os 2 e os 6 anos. Verificou-se uma discordância entre os dados reportados pelos pais e os dados medidos para 45,5% das crianças. Foram encontrados efeitos bidirecionais entre a prática restrição por controlo de peso e a altura e peso reportados, bem como entre a prática pressão e o peso, IMC e z-score de IMC reportados. Os resultados sugerem que perceções parentais incorretas sobre o estado ponderal da criança poderão levar a maiores níveis de práticas parentais alimentares negativas, com impacto no peso das crianças. Por outro lado, pais e filhos, influenciam-se mutuamente, pelo que os pais são reativos ao peso das crianças, mas também o influenciam.