Adopted children enter families with parents who on average are older, have higher income, and have more education than other family structures. Because adopted children are moving into families with more resources, research suggests that they would do just as well as, and perhaps even better than, children in biological two-parent households. However, this is not always the case. Understanding how different variables could offset any negative results of adoption is a puzzle that researchers are continually exploring. Previous research has investigated differences in investments from adoptive and biological parents through multiple theoretical lenses. I seek to add to current research by looking at parental investments of warmth and aversive and non-aversive discipline. Using the ECLS-K:2011 dataset, I examine the responses of parents of kindergarteners to questions about warmth and discipline. I find that there are no significant differences in parental warmth or aversive disciplinary strategies. However, when looking at the non-aversive disciplinary strategies of using time-out, I find that adoptive parents use time-out more. Additionally, adoptive parents use chores as discipline much less than biological parents, which aligns with none of the proposed theories and suggests a need for further research on how chores are viewed in discipline literature.

Parents of children and adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) have been shown to experience increases in stress, depression, and anxiety, which are also associated with child behavior problems related to ASD, such as aggressive behaviors and tantrums. Literature examining potential mechanisms that underlie the relationship of child behavior problems and parental anxiety/depression are scarce. The current study seeks to examine the roles of parental stress, parent self-efficacy, and emotion coaching as mediators between child behavior problems and parental anxiety/depression. Using a sample of 134 mothers who completed an online survey, these potential mediators were tested with regression analyses. Parental self-efficacy was found to mediate parental stress and parental depression/anxiety. Parental self-efficacy was also found to moderate child conduct problems and parental emotion coaching. There was a positive relationship between conduct problems and emotion coaching for mothers with high self-efficacy. Implications and future research will be discussed. / Master of Science

This dissertation developed a comprehensive model conceptualizing the factors affecting children's choice of influence strategy and relative influence in family consumption decisions. In particular, the model asserted that antecedent variables (i.e., family variables, individual characteristics of children, individual characteristics of parents, and parent-child interdependence) affect both directly and indirectly children's choice of influence strategy and relative influence. Process variables (i.e., family socialization and power structure) mediate the effects of the antecedent variables. In addition, effects of family socialization and power structure on children's choice of influence strategy and subsequent relative influence vary with the product type, decision stage, and subdecision. Finally, children's relative influence is also dependent on their choice of influence strategy. An empirical study was advanced to partially test the model. Specifically, relationships among family socialization, power structure, children's choice of influence strategy, and their relative influence were empirically examined. A field experimental interaction procedure was designed for data collection from parent/child dyads. Multiple regressions were conducted to analyze the data. Results showed moderate support to the hypothesized relationships. However, most links in the testing model presented significant results. It appears that the integration of consumer socialization theory and power relational theory provides better explanation to children's influence behavior than either theory does individually. / Ph. D.

Although behavioral inhibition has been found to be relatively stable, such stability has not always been shown. Moreover, although an association between parental shyness and child behavioral inhibition has been reported, this relationship is imperfect and indirect. The present study proposed that one factor that may impact these relationships is the attitudes parents hold toward having a shy, inhibited child. Although shyness is typically regarded as a negative and maladaptive trait, it is not necessarily viewed as problematic by all parents. The present study investigated a series of ten specific hypotheses that centered around the notion that variations in parental attitudes toward shyness may lead some parents to encourage and other parents to discourage behaviors typically associated with shyness in their young children. Using a longitudinal design, the present study examined the relations among the constructs of parental attitudes toward shyness, child behavioral inhibition, childrearing strategies, and parental shyness over a span of two years in a sample of 3 to 6 year-old children and their parents. Results revealed several interesting and valuable findings. Maternal attitudes toward shyness emerged as a moderator of the relationship between behavioral inhibition at Time 1 and Time 2. Maternal attitudes toward shyness also emerged as a significant moderator of the relationship between maternal shyness and child behavioral inhibition. However, childrearing strategies did not mediate the relationship between maternal attitudes toward shyness and behavioral inhibition in children as predicted. / Ph. D.

Intergenerational transmission of shyness, or the social process through which shy characteristics or behavioral patterns demonstrated by parents are passed on to their children, has received recent empirical attention and has suggested a positive relationship between levels of shyness in parents and children. One factor that may relate to this relationship is the attitudes parents hold toward having a shy child. The present study sought to illuminate several questions surrounding parental attitudes toward shyness and the presence of withdrawn, inhibited behavior in children. It was hypothesized that: a) parental attitudes toward shyness and shyness in parents would interact to influence inhibited behavior in children; and b) childrearing practices would serve as a mediator in the anticipated relationship between parental attitudes toward shyness and inhibited behavior in children. Results indicated a significant positive relationship between parental attitudes toward shyness and withdrawn, inhibited behavior in children, as well as a series of significant relationships between parental attitudes toward shyness and specific parenting strategies. No significant moderational or mediational effects were found, however. / Master of Science

Thesis (M.Soc.Sc (Clinical Psychology) North-West University, Mafikeng Campus, 2014

L'eczéma atopique est une maladie pouvant affecter jusqu'à un enfant d'âge préscolaire sur cinq. Cette affection a des répercussions sur la vie familiale dues aux traitements demandés et aux précautions à appliquer afin de réduire les irritants environnementaux pouvant exacerber les symptômes de la maladie. Les enfants souffrant d'eczéma présentent une dynamique comportementale particulière. Les mères de ces enfants vivent en parallèle une grande détresse face à la maladie ainsi qu'à ses exigences. L'état de la mère affecte directement celui de l'enfant puisqu'elle est la principale pourvoyeuse de soins et en retour, l'état de l'enfant influence la situation de la mère. L'objectif principal de cette étude est de mesurer le stress parental chez les mères d'enfants d'âge préscolaire atteints de dermatite atopique. [Résumé abrégé par UMI]

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