Abstract
This study was intended to examine the relationship among children’s emotionality, parental meta-emotion, and parent–child
attachment. The sample consisted of 546 5th and 6th grade children and their mothers. The test instruments used in this study
were the Emotionality subscale of the EAS Temperament Survey (mothers’ ratings only), the Parental Meta-Emotion Survey (mothers’
ratings only) and the Attachment Security Scale (children’s ratings only). Our results showed that maternal meta-emotion (emotion
coaching plus emotion dismissing) was associated with children’s attachment security vis-à-vis their mothers. Mothers who
tended to adopt an emotion-coaching philosophy were more likely to achieve secure parent–child attachments, as reported by
their children. Children whose mothers tended to adopt an emotion-dismissing philosophy reported lower levels of attachment
security. There were no direct or indirect effects of children’s emotionality on their attachment security. Parental meta-emotion,
but not children’s emotionality, was significantly associated with children’s attachment security. The results indicate the
importance of parenting factors in determining the parent–child relationship. Parental education programs that focus on parental
attitudes and practices related to emotion should be advocated.
attachment. The sample consisted of 546 5th and 6th grade children and their mothers. The test instruments used in this study
were the Emotionality subscale of the EAS Temperament Survey (mothers’ ratings only), the Parental Meta-Emotion Survey (mothers’
ratings only) and the Attachment Security Scale (children’s ratings only). Our results showed that maternal meta-emotion (emotion
coaching plus emotion dismissing) was associated with children’s attachment security vis-à-vis their mothers. Mothers who
tended to adopt an emotion-coaching philosophy were more likely to achieve secure parent–child attachments, as reported by
their children. Children whose mothers tended to adopt an emotion-dismissing philosophy reported lower levels of attachment
security. There were no direct or indirect effects of children’s emotionality on their attachment security. Parental meta-emotion,
but not children’s emotionality, was significantly associated with children’s attachment security. The results indicate the
importance of parenting factors in determining the parent–child relationship. Parental education programs that focus on parental
attitudes and practices related to emotion should be advocated.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Pages 1-8
- DOI 10.1007/s10826-011-9491-y
- Authors
- Fu Mei Chen, Department of Child and Family Studies, Fu-Jen University, New Taipei City, Taiwan
- Hsiao Shih Lin, Keelung Municipal Long-Sheng Primary School, Keelung, Taiwan
- Chun Hao Li, Department of Social and Policy Sciences, Yuan Ze University, Taoyuan County, Taiwan
- Journal Journal of Child and Family Studies
- Online ISSN 1573-2843
- Print ISSN 1062-1024