Observed Emotions as Predictors of Quality of Kindergartners’ Social Relationships

Maciel M. Hernández; Nancy Eisenberg; Carlos Valiente; Tracy Spinrad; Sarah K. Vanschyndel; Anjolii Diaz; Kassondra M. Silva; Rebecca H. Berger; Jody Southworth

doi:10.1111/sode.12179

Observed Emotions as Predictors of Quality of Kindergartners’ Social Relationships

Maciel M. Hernández, Nancy Eisenberg, Carlos Valiente, Tracy Spinrad, Sarah K. Vanschyndel, Anjolii Diaz, Kassondra M. Silva, Rebecca H. Berger, Jody Southworth

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

19 Scopus citations

Abstract

This study evaluated whether positive and anger emotional frequency (the proportion of instances an emotion was observed) and intensity (the strength of an emotion when it was observed) uniquely predicted social relationships among kindergarteners (N = 301). Emotions were observed as naturally occurring at school in the fall term and multiple reporters (peers and teachers) provided information on quality of relationships with children in the spring term. In structural equation models, positive emotion frequency, but not positive emotion intensity, was positively related to peer acceptance and negatively related to peer rejection. In contrast, the frequency of anger provided unique positive prediction of teacher–student conflict and negative prediction of peer acceptance. Furthermore, anger intensity negatively predicted teacher–student closeness and positively predicted teacher–student conflict. Implications for promoting social relationships in school are discussed.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	21-39
Number of pages	19
Journal	Social Development
Volume	26
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1111/sode.12179
State	Published - Feb 1 2017

Keywords

emotions in school
peer acceptance
peer rejection
teacher–student relationship quality

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Developmental and Educational Psychology
Sociology and Political Science
Social Sciences (miscellaneous)

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10.1111/sode.12179

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title = "Observed Emotions as Predictors of Quality of Kindergartners{\textquoteright} Social Relationships",

abstract = "This study evaluated whether positive and anger emotional frequency (the proportion of instances an emotion was observed) and intensity (the strength of an emotion when it was observed) uniquely predicted social relationships among kindergarteners (N = 301). Emotions were observed as naturally occurring at school in the fall term and multiple reporters (peers and teachers) provided information on quality of relationships with children in the spring term. In structural equation models, positive emotion frequency, but not positive emotion intensity, was positively related to peer acceptance and negatively related to peer rejection. In contrast, the frequency of anger provided unique positive prediction of teacher–student conflict and negative prediction of peer acceptance. Furthermore, anger intensity negatively predicted teacher–student closeness and positively predicted teacher–student conflict. Implications for promoting social relationships in school are discussed.",

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note = "Funding Information: Research reported in this publication was supported by the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health & Human Development of the National Institutes of Health under Award Number R01HD068522, awarded to Nancy Eisenberg and Carlos Valiente. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health. We thank the participating families, schools, staff, and research assistants who took part in this study. Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2016 John Wiley & Sons Ltd",

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AU - Diaz, Anjolii

AU - Silva, Kassondra M.

AU - Berger, Rebecca H.

AU - Southworth, Jody

N1 - Funding Information: Research reported in this publication was supported by the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health & Human Development of the National Institutes of Health under Award Number R01HD068522, awarded to Nancy Eisenberg and Carlos Valiente. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health. We thank the participating families, schools, staff, and research assistants who took part in this study. Publisher Copyright: © 2016 John Wiley & Sons Ltd

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Observed Emotions as Predictors of Quality of Kindergartners’ Social Relationships

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Keywords

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