Jungmeen Kim1, Kirby Deater-Deckard. 1. Department of Psychology, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Virginia 24061, USA. jungmeen@vt.edu
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Low levels of dispositional anger and a good attention span are critical to healthy social emotional development, with attention control reflecting effective cognitive self-regulation of negative emotions such as anger. Using a longitudinal design, we examined attention span as a moderator of reciprocal links between changes in anger and changes in externalizing and internalizing problems from 4.5 to 11 years of age. METHOD: Participants were children from the Study of Early Child Care and Youth Development (SECCYD), assessed four times between 4.5 and 11 years. Composite scores for anger and attention were computed using indicators from multiple informants. Externalizing and internalizing problems were reported by mothers. RESULTS: Latent difference score analysis showed reciprocal lagged effects between increased anger and elevated levels of externalizing or internalizing problems. Significant moderating effects of attention indicated more persistent effects of anger on externalizing problems in the poor attention group. Although the poor and the good attention groups did not differ regarding the effects of anger on internalizing problems, significant moderating effects of attention indicated stronger and more persistent reciprocal effects of internalizing problems on anger in the poor attention group. CONCLUSIONS: Attention control mechanisms are involved in self-regulation of anger and its connections with changes in behavioral and emotional problems. Strong attention regulation may serve to protect children with higher levels of dispositional anger from developing behavioral and emotional problems in middle childhood.
BACKGROUND: Low levels of dispositional anger and a good attention span are critical to healthy social emotional development, with attention control reflecting effective cognitive self-regulation of negative emotions such as anger. Using a longitudinal design, we examined attention span as a moderator of reciprocal links between changes in anger and changes in externalizing and internalizing problems from 4.5 to 11 years of age. METHOD:Participants were children from the Study of Early Child Care and Youth Development (SECCYD), assessed four times between 4.5 and 11 years. Composite scores for anger and attention were computed using indicators from multiple informants. Externalizing and internalizing problems were reported by mothers. RESULTS: Latent difference score analysis showed reciprocal lagged effects between increased anger and elevated levels of externalizing or internalizing problems. Significant moderating effects of attention indicated more persistent effects of anger on externalizing problems in the poor attention group. Although the poor and the good attention groups did not differ regarding the effects of anger on internalizing problems, significant moderating effects of attention indicated stronger and more persistent reciprocal effects of internalizing problems on anger in the poor attention group. CONCLUSIONS: Attention control mechanisms are involved in self-regulation of anger and its connections with changes in behavioral and emotional problems. Strong attention regulation may serve to protect children with higher levels of dispositional anger from developing behavioral and emotional problems in middle childhood.
Authors: Nancy Eisenberg; Tracy L Spinrad; Richard A Fabes; Mark Reiser; Amanda Cumberland; Stephanie A Shepard; Carlos Valiente; Sandra H Losoya; Ivanna K Guthrie; Marilyn Thompson Journal: Child Dev Date: 2004 Jan-Feb
Authors: Nancy Eisenberg; Carlos Valiente; Tracy L Spinrad; Jeffrey Liew; Qing Zhou; Sandra H Losoya; Mark Reiser; Amanda Cumberland Journal: Dev Psychol Date: 2009-07
Authors: Diana M Graham; Nicole Crocker; Benjamin N Deweese; Scott C Roesch; Claire D Coles; Julie A Kable; Philip A May; Wendy O Kalberg; Elizabeth R Sowell; Kenneth L Jones; Edward P Riley; Sarah N Mattson Journal: Alcohol Clin Exp Res Date: 2012-07-20 Impact factor: 3.455
Authors: Sophie S Havighurst; Katherine R Wilson; Ann E Harley; Christiane Kehoe; Daryl Efron; Margot R Prior Journal: Child Psychiatry Hum Dev Date: 2013-04