Components of Effortful Control and Their Relations to Children's Shyness

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Bibliographic Details
Title: Components of Effortful Control and Their Relations to Children's Shyness
Language: English
Authors: Eggum-Wilkens, Natalie D., Reichenberg, Ray E., Eisenberg, Nancy, Spinrad, Tracy L.
Source: International Journal of Behavioral Development. Nov 2016 40(6):544-554.
Availability: SAGE Publications. 2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320. Tel: 800-818-7243; Tel: 805-499-9774; Fax: 800-583-2665; e-mail: journals@sagepub.com; Web site: http://sagepub.com
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 11
Publication Date: 2016
Sponsoring Agency: National Institute of Mental Health (DHHS/NIH)
Contract Number: 2R01MH060838
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Descriptors: Shyness, Cognitive Processes, Young Children, Child Development, Children, Inhibition, Correlation, Attention Control, Mother Attitudes, Prediction, Toddlers, Questionnaires, Statistical Analysis, Longitudinal Studies, Maximum Likelihood Statistics, Regression (Statistics)
DOI: 10.1177/0165025415597792
ISSN: 0165-0254
Abstract: Relations between children's (n = 213) mother-reported effortful control components (attention focusing, attention shifting, inhibitory control at 42 months; activational control at 72 months) and mother-reported shyness trajectories across 42, 54, 72, and 84 months of age were examined. In growth models, shyness decreased. Inhibitory control and attention shifting predicted higher levels and lower levels of shyness at 42 months (the intercept), respectively. Inhibitory control negatively, and attention shifting positively, predicted the shyness slope. Children with higher inhibitory control had relatively more rapid decreases in shyness. Children with higher attention shifting had relatively slower decreases in shyness. Activational control was negatively correlated with the shyness intercept. Effortful control components should be examined separately, rather than in combination, in relation to shyness in the future. If results are replicated, it may suggest that fostering attention shifting and activational control development helps prevent, or maintain low levels of, shyness during childhood.
Abstractor: As Provided
Number of References: 45
Entry Date: 2016
Accession Number: EJ1119141
Database: ERIC
Description
Abstract:Relations between children's (n = 213) mother-reported effortful control components (attention focusing, attention shifting, inhibitory control at 42 months; activational control at 72 months) and mother-reported shyness trajectories across 42, 54, 72, and 84 months of age were examined. In growth models, shyness decreased. Inhibitory control and attention shifting predicted higher levels and lower levels of shyness at 42 months (the intercept), respectively. Inhibitory control negatively, and attention shifting positively, predicted the shyness slope. Children with higher inhibitory control had relatively more rapid decreases in shyness. Children with higher attention shifting had relatively slower decreases in shyness. Activational control was negatively correlated with the shyness intercept. Effortful control components should be examined separately, rather than in combination, in relation to shyness in the future. If results are replicated, it may suggest that fostering attention shifting and activational control development helps prevent, or maintain low levels of, shyness during childhood.
ISSN:0165-0254
DOI:10.1177/0165025415597792