Do Mothers or Children Lead the Dance? Disentangling Individual and Influence Effects During Conflict

Unique associations among multiple facets of greenspace exposure and emotional and behavioral adjustment in preadolescence: A daily diary study

Research has shown that the frequency, duration, and intensity of greenspace exposure are significantly associated with children's adjustment. However, most studies have examined these facets separately. There is a lack of research that integrates them to offer a more comprehensive understanding of their unique associations with adjustment. This study investigates the unique associations between various facets of greenspace exposure and children's emotional (happiness and emotional problems) and behavioral (helping behavior and direct aggression) adjustment at both the daily and individual levels. The sample included 509 children (235 boys; Mage = 10.58 years, SD = 0.85 years) who completed a 14 days diary on greenspace exposure and adjustment. Multilevel analyses revealed that greenspace exposure (versus nonexposure) was associated with adjustment, and the various facets showed unique associations with adjustment. Specifically, on days when children were exposed to greenspace with more attributes than usual, they reported greater same-day happiness and fewer emotional problems. Compared with children who were exposed to greenspace with fewer attributes, children who were exposed to greenspace with more attributes on average presented greater happiness and more helping behaviors. With respect to duration, on days when children spent more time in greenspace than usual, they reported greater same-day happiness and more helping behaviors. However, frequency was not significantly associated with adjustment at either level. Our findings underscore the importance of enhancing the attributes of greenspace in the construction of child-friendly cities. Practitioners may consider increasing the number of opportunities for children to be exposed to greenspace with rich attributes in greenspace-based intervention programs.

Do siblings influence one another? Unpacking processes that occur during sibling conflict

This study examined the extent to which 205 sibling dyads influenced each other during conflict. Data were collected between 2013 to 2015. The sample included 5.9% Black, 15.1% South Asian, 15.1% East Asian, and 63.8% White children. Older siblings were between 7-13 years old (Female = 109) and younger siblings were 5-9 years old (Female = 99). Siblings' conflict resolution was analyzed using dynamic structural equation modeling. Modeling fluctuations in moment-to-moment data (20-s intervals) allowed for a close approximation of causal influence. Older and younger siblings were found to influence one another. Younger sisters were more constructive than younger brothers, especially in sister-sister dyads. Sibling age gap predicted inertia in older siblings. Socialization processes within sibling relationships are discussed.

A mediation meta-analysis of the role of maternal responsivity in the association between socioeconomic risk and children's language

This meta-analysis tested maternal responsivity as a mediator of the association between socioeconomic risk and children's preschool language abilities. The search included studies up to 2017 and meta-analytic structural equation modeling, allowed us to examine the magnitude of the indirect effect across 17 studies (k = 19). The meta-analysis included 6433 predominantly White, English speaking children (M_age  = 36 months; 50% female) from Western, industrialized countries. All paths in the model were statistically significant, notably, the indirect effect was significant (b = -.052), showing that maternal responsivity may be a proximal intervening variable between socioeconomic risk and children's language development. Moderator analyses found that the indirect effect was stronger for sensitive parenting than warmth and when parenting was assessed in the family home.