Inhibitory control represents the ability to inhibit a dominant response while achieving some goals (e.g., Rothbart & Bates, 2006). Precocious signs of inhibitory control occur early, around 6 and 12 months of age, even though important improvements emerge later, between 3 and 6 years of age (Kochanska et al., 2001). In their model, Rothbart and colleagues distinguished between two temperamental aspects of control: a) inhibitory control refers to voluntary regulation of behaviour, whereas b) reactive approach (e.g., impulsivity) and reactive inhibition (e.g., shyness) refer to involuntary control of behaviour. Extent research has found negative relations between children’s inhibitory control and reactive approach. More unclear is the relation between inhibitory control and reactive inhibition, with someone finding a positive relation, in contrast to others who found a negative association (see Aksan & Kochanska, 2004; Eisenberg et al., 2010). Delay tolerance, defined as the ability to postpone gratification, is considered a good indicator of children’s inhibitory control. In this study, we aimed to investigate the relation between children’s reactive approach and reactive inhibition and delay tolerance in two different age groups. Sample 1 included 74 children (M = 35.05, SD = 3.57; 30 boys) and Sample 2 included 69 children (M = 65.14, SD = 6.24; 37 boys). For both samples, parents completed some subscales (Shyness, Fear, Impulsivity, and Anger/Frustration) of the Children’s Behavior Questionnaire (CBQ), and children were tested in a delay task (i.e., one different task for each sample). Hierarchical regressions, with CBQ’s subscales as IVs and scores in delay tasks as DVs, showed that, only for younger children (Sample 1), shyness and impulsivity were differently related to delay tolerance. Children’s shyness was positively associated with delay tolerance even controlling for fear, age, and gender (β = .43, p < .01). In contrast, controlling for anger/frustration, age, and gender, impulsivity was negatively related to delay tolerance (β = -.47, p < .01). No significant relations were found in older children (Sample 2). Overall, shyness seems to facilitate younger children to wait longer to obtain a gratification. This may be particularly important for children’s transition to preschool, which includes specific delay activities (e.g., getting in line to go outside). For older children, when inhibitory control should be better developed, delay tolerance may benefit from the acquisition of other important abilities, such as internalization of a rule (i.e., the ability to comply with adults’ demands without surveillance; Kochanska et al., 2010).

Do shyness and impulsivity differently relate to delay tolerance in early childhood? / Pecora, Giulia; Sette, Stefania; Addessi, Elsa; Bellagamba, Francesca; DI NORCIA, Anna; Paoletti, Melania; Baumgartner, Emma. - ELETTRONICO. - (2016), pp. 140-140. (Intervento presentato al convegno 24TH BIENNIAL MEETING OF THE INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY FOR THE STUDY OF BEHAVIOURAL DEVELOPMENT. tenutosi a VILNIUS, LITHUANIA nel JULY 10-14, 2016).

Do shyness and impulsivity differently relate to delay tolerance in early childhood?

SETTE, STEFANIA;ADDESSI, Elsa;BELLAGAMBA, Francesca;DI NORCIA, Anna;PAOLETTI, MELANIA;BAUMGARTNER, Emma
2016

Abstract

Inhibitory control represents the ability to inhibit a dominant response while achieving some goals (e.g., Rothbart & Bates, 2006). Precocious signs of inhibitory control occur early, around 6 and 12 months of age, even though important improvements emerge later, between 3 and 6 years of age (Kochanska et al., 2001). In their model, Rothbart and colleagues distinguished between two temperamental aspects of control: a) inhibitory control refers to voluntary regulation of behaviour, whereas b) reactive approach (e.g., impulsivity) and reactive inhibition (e.g., shyness) refer to involuntary control of behaviour. Extent research has found negative relations between children’s inhibitory control and reactive approach. More unclear is the relation between inhibitory control and reactive inhibition, with someone finding a positive relation, in contrast to others who found a negative association (see Aksan & Kochanska, 2004; Eisenberg et al., 2010). Delay tolerance, defined as the ability to postpone gratification, is considered a good indicator of children’s inhibitory control. In this study, we aimed to investigate the relation between children’s reactive approach and reactive inhibition and delay tolerance in two different age groups. Sample 1 included 74 children (M = 35.05, SD = 3.57; 30 boys) and Sample 2 included 69 children (M = 65.14, SD = 6.24; 37 boys). For both samples, parents completed some subscales (Shyness, Fear, Impulsivity, and Anger/Frustration) of the Children’s Behavior Questionnaire (CBQ), and children were tested in a delay task (i.e., one different task for each sample). Hierarchical regressions, with CBQ’s subscales as IVs and scores in delay tasks as DVs, showed that, only for younger children (Sample 1), shyness and impulsivity were differently related to delay tolerance. Children’s shyness was positively associated with delay tolerance even controlling for fear, age, and gender (β = .43, p < .01). In contrast, controlling for anger/frustration, age, and gender, impulsivity was negatively related to delay tolerance (β = -.47, p < .01). No significant relations were found in older children (Sample 2). Overall, shyness seems to facilitate younger children to wait longer to obtain a gratification. This may be particularly important for children’s transition to preschool, which includes specific delay activities (e.g., getting in line to go outside). For older children, when inhibitory control should be better developed, delay tolerance may benefit from the acquisition of other important abilities, such as internalization of a rule (i.e., the ability to comply with adults’ demands without surveillance; Kochanska et al., 2010).
2016
978-9955-19-846-8
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11573/979484
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