Emotional regulation, as defined within this study, is “the process of modulating the occurrence, duration, and intensity of internal states of feeling (both positive and negative) and emotion-related physiological processes.” This study was based on the framework of the tripartite model, which states that parents influence a child’s emotional regulation through 3 mechanisms. Those being observations of parent’s emotion regulation, emotion-related parenting practice, and emotional climate of the family.

It was found that parent’s emotional support, positive affect, emotion coaching, and use of joint strategies were associated with better emotional regulation within children. Conversely, it was found that parents’ psychological control, permissiveness, expressed anger, and criticism were associated with higher difficulties in regulating emotions. 

Ways found to support better emotional regulation have been through emotional support and a secure parent-child relationship. This allows for children to feel they are able to freely express their emotions and is an important step in learning emotion regulation. Parenting that has defined rules and limits help children know what to expect when it comes to emotional expression within their home, and this can help children learn ways to express their emotions in ways that are socially acceptable. For example, knowing it is okay to feel anger but that it is not okay to hurt someone because of it. It has also been found that parents who help coach their children on emotions, through problem solving, labeling emotion, and comforting their child, can increase successful emotional regulation! 

If you want to read more on ways to facilitate children’s emotional regulation, click here!

Kaitlyn Vitucci
UConn KIDS, Research Assistant 

A few posts back, we discussed the benefits of being bilingual from an early age. In this TED Talk by Megan Alubicki Flick, she further explores how multilingualism can transform people, specifically through education. Yes, the majority of schools require students to take a language, but these courses rarely dig deep enough for true language acquisition to develop. But why is it so important to learn a language in school?  

Megan Flick encourages educators to view multilingualism as a valuable tool and asset. Schools can make use of the different languages their students speak, creating a space where all languages are valued and used to improve learning. Bilingual education models, where students are encouraged to strengthen both their native and additional languages, are proven to boost academic success, improve cultural awareness, and prepare students to thrive in a globalized world. 

Bilingual and multilingualism individuals tend to have stronger cognitive skills, such as improved memory, problem-solving, and multitasking abilities. From a cultural perspective, multilingualism serves as a bridge between communities and cultures that foster inclusive environments.  

Interested in reading more? Click the link here to watch the full TED Talk! 

 

Rachel Silverman    

UConn KIDS, Research Assistant 

Welcome back to Trivia Tuesday!

This weeks’ question is…True or false: Being Love, or B-Love, is defined by the American Psychological Association (2018) as “…in Abraham Maslow’s humanistic psychology, a form of love characterized by mutuality, genuine concern for another’s welfare and pleasure, and reduced dependency, selfishness, and jealousy.”

A. True
B. False

Last weeks’ question was “True or false: ‘When people feel coerced into a certain behavior, they will react against the coercion, often by demonstrating an increased preference for the behavior that is restrained, and may perform the behavior opposite to that desired.’ (American Psychological Association, 2018) This experience is called Reactance Theory.” The answer was true!

Tune in next week to find out the answer to this weeks’ question!

Temper tantrums are an almost universal experience for parents of young children. They’re dramatic, loud, and often emotionally draining. That being said, they’re also a normal part of early childhood development. Many parents may ask, why do temper tantrums happen? The simple answer is that young children are challenged by emotions they are not yet equipped to handle. As they encounter new emotions, they struggle to communicate them properly, leading to a temper tantrum. 

This article focuses on normalizing these outbursts and reassuring parents that they should not be overly concerned. Yes, if these issues persist past a certain age, they can indicate an underlying issue, but that is not always the case. From a psychological standpoint, tantrums are a child’s emotional release. Some techniques have been proposed to help parents manage these temper tantrums. Examples include staying calm, creating structure through routines, and redirecting energy by offering distractions. It’s important for parents to remember that tantrums are a phase, not a permanent behavior pattern. 

Interested in reading more? Click the link here to read the full article! 

 

Rachel Silverman 

UConn KIDS, Research Assistant 

Emma Wedell is a fourth year Ph.D. student in Social Psychology at UConn. She is working with the Teen Beliefs about Prejudice and Discrimination in Social Life (IRB protocol: H24-0059) lab, with Dr. Rhiannon Smith! 

Fun facts about Emma are that her favorite movie is Monsters, Inc.! Emma and her sister recite their favorite quotes often, one of them is “Put that thing back where it came from or so help me!” Another fun fact is her favorite ice cream flavor at UConn Dairy Bar is mint oreo!

Emma studies the impacts of prejudice and discrimination on people’s lives, especially how people respond when something unfair happens to either themselves or others. Most of this research focuses on adult perspectives, but she also believes it is so important that psychologists listen to teens’ voices! Emma believes the work in the Teen Beliefs about Prejudice and Discrimination in Social Life lab is so exciting because teens will have the opportunity to share their thoughts directly in a conversation with each other. Additionally, the insights they can share will be extremely valuable for the scientific community. 

If you want to check out the lab, click the link below!
https://social-development-lab.psychology.uconn.edu/

 

Bilingualism in early childhood is more than just learning two languages- it sets a child up for success. Some parents worry that learning two languages might confuse kids or delay their speech, but science proves otherwise. Research shows that while learning two languages simultaneously may delay certain linguistic milestones, this is temporary and does not indicate a deficit. 

Bilingualism in general offers many cognitive advantages, such as enhanced executive function, better problem-solving skills, and improved ability to switch between tasks. When these skills are developed at an early age, the more proficient they become. These cognitive benefits extend beyond language, helping them excel in other areas of life. The research shows that the key to success is providing children with consistent exposure to both languages. This can be done through Conversations, storytelling, and playtime in both languages. 

 

Interested in reading more? Click here! 

Rachel Silverman 

UConn KIDS, Research Assistant 

Our strongest and most impactful bond is the sibling bond. In his TED Talk, Jeffrey Kluger explores the lasting influence of sibling relationships. Siblings are our first companions, growing up alongside us in a shared home and through shared experiences. Each relationship is unique: some siblings take on the role of best friends, others are rivals, and many have a mix of both feelings. No matter the dynamic, the bond is undeniable. 

According to Kluger, older siblings may act as role models or protectors, while younger siblings often push boundaries and challenge the status quo. Conflicts among siblings and within families are common, but the ways we learn to resolve these conflicts shape how we tackle challenges in life. The growth and forgiveness cultivated through sibling bonds can profoundly prepare us for success in the future. 

 

Interested in learning more? Click here to watch the TED Talk! 

Rachel Silverman 

UConn KIDS, Research Assistant 

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a disorder where one experiences reoccurring thoughts and/or repetitive compulsions. Compared to the quality of life in adults with OCD, the quality of life in children with OCD has not been researched as much. The prevalence of OCD in children is 0.5-3%, and they can experience other psychological disorders like depression, anxiety, etc. 

In this study, they measured the quality of life in children/adolescents after cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) in comparison to those without OCD. The results yielded that the quality of life was worse before CBT treatment and improved after the CBT treatment as self-reported by the children and their parents. 

Quality of life is not used as a measure of treatment in aiding children and adolescents with OCD, but this study provides implications for incorporating quality of life as a measure! 

To read more, click here! 

Ashley Bejar, UConn KIDS Research Assistant 

Welcome back to Trivia Tuesday!

This week’s question is… True or false: “When people feel coerced into a certain behavior, they will react against the coercion, often by demonstrating an increased preference for the behavior that is restrained, and may perform the behavior opposite to that desired.” (American Psychological Association, 2018) This experience is called Reactance Theory.

A. True
B. False 

Last week’s question was “True or false: Cognitive Dissonance is defined by the American Psychological Association (2018) as ‘an unpleasant psychological state resulting from inconsistency between two or more elements in a cognitive system.’” The answer was true!

Tune in next week to find out the answer to this week’s question!

 

What is known about socio-emotional learning (SEL) is early childhood SEL skills are strongly associated with social, academic, and cognitive outcomes later in life. However, there is not much known about how a large scale SEL program would impact children. The research on SEL interventions in school suggested short term benefits, but there needs to be more longitudinal research for the long-term benefits. 

The current framework for SEL was organized by the Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL); this includes five core areas of self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision making. 

This article reviewed a few intervention methods. A highlight of this article is based on past evidence that having a sensitive and responsive caregiver is associated with healthy development. It was found that programs with high-quality teacher- child relationships (ex. Smaller class sizes) and safe learning environments are more likely to have positive impacts on children’s SEL. 

This paper concluded that investments should be made to support a child’s SEL at many levels. One way this can be done is to add SEL skills into the curriculum, along with the literacy and numeracy skills. 

All in all, the benefits of SEL on childrens’ well being is well known but there is much to be studied on the possible benefits of a large skill SEL intervention.

If you want to read more, click here!

Kaitlyn Vitucci
UConn KIDS, Research Assistant