Caregiver Perceptions and Expectations and Child Emotion Regulation: A Test of Two Mediation Models Predicting Child Psychopathology among Trauma-Exposed Children

Abstract

The current investigation compared the reciprocal mediating effects of child emotion regulation and caregiver perceptions and expectations of the child on psychopathology in maltreated children. A clinical sample of 38 children (ages 7 to 12 years old with trauma histories) and their caregivers were assessed prior to treatment. Subtypes of child emotion regulation included emotion dysregulation and poor emotion understanding. Domains of child functioning included post-traumatic stress symptomatology, internalizing behavior problems, and externalizing behavior problems. Findings supported mediation by child emotion regulation as an indirect pathway in the relationship between caregiver perceptions and expectations and psychopathology. Theoretical and clinical implications are discussed.

Keywords:

• children
• trauma
• maltreatment
• emotion regulation
• psychopathology
• theoretical issues
• clinical issues

Acknowledgment

This research was supported by research grants to the first author from the Provincial Centre of Excellence for Child and Youth Mental Health at the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario. Special thanks go to Lise McLewin, Ritu Bedi, Julie Cinamon, Karina Zorella, Kristin Gragtmans, and Lisa Fiksenbaum for the execution of the research.