{"title":"Attachment and Externalizing/Internalizing Problems in Preschoolers: Contributions of Positive and Negative Empathic Perspective-Taking","authors":"Catrinel A. Ștefan, Julia Avram","doi":"10.13110/merrpalmquar1982.67.2.0123","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"Abstract:The current study’s aim was to assess the contribution of empathic perspective-taking to the relationship between attachment security and children’s risk of mal-adjustment. A sample of 212 preschoolers aged 3–5 years old was included in this study. Children completed the Attachment Story Completion Task and a modified version of the Kids’ Empathic Development Scale. Teachers and parents rated children’s externalizing/internalizing problems by employing the Caregiver-Teacher Report Form, and the Child Behavior Checklist, respectively. Results supported the notion that the indirect path from attachment security to externalizing problems was negatively mediated by empathic perspective-taking related to negative (but not positive) emotions. Similarly, the same component of empathic perspective-taking negatively mediated the relationship between attachment security and internalizing problems. These findings indicate that empathic perspective-taking in relation to negative emotions might serve to promote preschoolers’ reduced risk of mental health problems.","PeriodicalId":51470,"journal":{"name":"Merrill-Palmer Quarterly-Journal of Developmental Psychology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.2000,"publicationDate":"2021-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"1","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Merrill-Palmer Quarterly-Journal of Developmental Psychology","FirstCategoryId":"102","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.13110/merrpalmquar1982.67.2.0123","RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q4","JCRName":"PSYCHOLOGY, DEVELOPMENTAL","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 1
Abstract
Abstract:The current study’s aim was to assess the contribution of empathic perspective-taking to the relationship between attachment security and children’s risk of mal-adjustment. A sample of 212 preschoolers aged 3–5 years old was included in this study. Children completed the Attachment Story Completion Task and a modified version of the Kids’ Empathic Development Scale. Teachers and parents rated children’s externalizing/internalizing problems by employing the Caregiver-Teacher Report Form, and the Child Behavior Checklist, respectively. Results supported the notion that the indirect path from attachment security to externalizing problems was negatively mediated by empathic perspective-taking related to negative (but not positive) emotions. Similarly, the same component of empathic perspective-taking negatively mediated the relationship between attachment security and internalizing problems. These findings indicate that empathic perspective-taking in relation to negative emotions might serve to promote preschoolers’ reduced risk of mental health problems.
期刊介绍:
This internationally acclaimed periodical features empirical and theoretical papers on child development and family-child relationships. A high-quality resource for researchers, writers, teachers, and practitioners, the journal contains up-to-date information on advances in developmental research on infants, children, adolescents, and families; summaries and integrations of research; commentaries by experts; and reviews of important new books in development.