Research article summary (published 29 Sep 1989):

Effects of maternal discipline and nurturance on toddler's behavior and affect.

Full Abstract

Oppositional behavior problems frequently begin in early childhood and remain stable over time. Correlational data point to the importance of parental discipline and nurturance in their development. This study investigated experimentally some of the hypotheses suggested by these correlational data. The effects of immediate, short, firm reprimands and delayed, long, gentle reprimands on transgressions and appropriate play were examined in the context of either high or low nurturant maternal interaction. Forty children (18-31 months) and their mothers participated. Children exposed to reprimands that were immediate, short, and firm transgressed significantly less often and exhibited more negative affect than those exposed to reprimands that were delayed, long, and gentle. The only effect of nurturance was on children's negative affect, with a high level of nurturance increasing negative affect when immediate, short, firm reprimands were delivered. The results indicate that the manner in which reprimands are delivered is critical in influencing children's misbehavior, but the role of nurturance during disciplinary situations is less clear.

Author information

Author/s: Pfiffner, L J (LJ); O'Leary, S G (SG);

Affiliation: Child Development Center, University of California, Irvine 92715.

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Journal: Journal of abnormal child psychology (J Abnorm Child Psychol), published in UNITED STATES. (Language: eng)

Reference: 1989-Oct; vol 17 (issue 5) : pp 527-40

Dates: Created 1989/12/07; Completed 1989/12/07; Revised 2006/11/15;

PMID: 2808945, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 2/18/2009, IMS Date: )

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

External Links for this article
(including full text providers, if available):

Click Electronic Full-text Provider Links to see options for finding the electronic full text links to this article. Note there may be a subscription or fee required for access to the full text. See our FAQ for information on finding FREE full text articles.

This article may also be located in paper journal collections available in many libraries. Use the Journal and Publication Information above to find the full article.

MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Adult Affect Child Behavior Child Rearing Child, Preschool Cooperative Behavior Female Humans

Humans Infant Male Maternal Behavior Middle Aged Mother-Child Relations Play and Playthings Reinforcement, Verbal

Related articles

These are the highest related articles currently in the database:

• The socialization of 2-yr old boys: ecological findings. 29 Sep 1976
• Sex differences in empathy and related behaviors. 29 Jun 1977
• Temperament and interactive effects: mothers and infants in a teaching situation. 29 Jun 1992
• Psychosocial development and behavior of mothers of failure-to-thrive children. 29 Jun 1975
• A mother-instruction program: Documenting change in mother-child interactions. 30 Dec 1974
• Hospitalized toddlers' responses to mothers' tape recordings during brief separations. 30 Dec 1975
• Maternal affect-allowance and limit-setting appropriateness as predictors of child adjustment. 30 Jul 1978
• The sensory deprivations. An approach to the study of the emergence of affects and the capacity for object relations. 30 Dec 1978
• Emotions as motivations: an evolutionary-developmental perspective. 30 Dec 1977
• Quality of life in treatment of hypertension. A metaanalysis of clinical trials. 28 Feb 1992

See 100+ related articles.

Related Article Map

Legend: - FREE Full text Article. - Abstract only. - Title only. More help.

See a large map of 100+ related articles.