Emotionality, emotion regulation, and adaptation among 5- to 8-year-old children.

TLDR

The study examined how emotionality and emotion regulation relate to behavioral adaptation in children over time. Mothers assessed children’s emotionality and regulation of anger, fear, and positive emotions at ages 5 and 6½, and teachers and parents rated behavioral problems and competence at ages 6, 6½, and 8. Results showed modest correlations, with high anger emotionality and poor positive‑emotion regulation predicting externalizing and prosocial problems, high fear emotionality and poor fear regulation predicting internalizing problems, and few interaction effects.

Abstract

This study investigated relations between emotionality, emotion regulation, and children's behavioral adaptation in a longitudinal design. Mothers rated emotionality and emotion regulation related to anger, fear, and positive emotions-exuberance for 151 children at age 5 and later at age 6 years 6 months. Emotionality and emotion regulation measures were modestly related. Preschool ratings at age 6 (n = 125), maternal ratings at age 6 years 6 months (n = 133), and elementary school ratings at age 8 (n = 135) of problems and competence were also collected. High anger emotionality and low regulation of positive emotions and exuberance predicted externalizing problem behavior and prosocial behavior. High fear emotionality and low fear regulation predicted internalizing problem behavior. There were few interactive effects of emotionality and regulation.