The anger–distress model of temper tantrums: associations with emotional reactivity and emotional competence
Date
2010
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Infant and Child Development
Abstract
The goals of this investigation were (a) to assess the structural
validity of the anger-distress model of temper tantrums, and (b) to
examine the associations among temper tantrums, emotional
reactivity and emotional competence in a community sample of
preschoolers. A parent-report measure, the Temper Tantrum Grid,
was used to measure the frequency of common tantrum
behaviours. Laboratory and parent report measures of emotional
reactivity and emotional competence were administered.
Confirmatory factor analysis supported the proposal that anger and
distress are separate but overlapping tantrum processes.
Correlation analyses showed that temper tantrum anger and
distress were related to emotional reactivity and emotional
competence. There was no evidence to support the notion that
emotional competence moderated the effect of emotional reactivity
on temper tantrums. In contrast, emotional competence was a
significant mediator of the association between emotional reactivity
and temper tantrums. Overall, the results support the anger-distress
model of temper tantrums. The findings suggest that
children’s temper tantrums are systematically related to the overall
organization of emotion and behaviour in preschool children.
Description
Article deposited according to publisher policies: http://olabout.wiley.com/WileyCDA/Section/id-820227.html
Keywords
Temper tantrums, Emotional reactivity, Emotional competence, Externalizing behaviour, Emotion regulation, Preschoolers
Citation
Giesbrecht, G.F., Miller, M., & Müller, U (2010). The anger–distress model of temper tantrums: associations with emotional reactivity and emotional competence. Infant and Child Development, 19, 478-497.