Acta Psychologica Sinica

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to examine emotion regulation strategies in Chinese children. One hundred and forty 2-year-olds were observed in laboratory situations. Emotional expression and regulation were coded based on children’s reactions in 5 episodes: strange situation, toy delay, food delay, maternal separation — child alone, and maternal separation — with a strange adult. Six strategies were identified and coded in terms of their frequency of use in different situations. In addition, data concerning children’s behavioral inhibition in a stressful situations, mothers’ intervention and strangers’ behaviors were collected, as potential correlates of children’s use of strategies. It was found that (1) sophisticated strategies of emotional regulation, mainly comprising active strategy, attention-shifting strategy, self-soothing strategy, help-seeking strategy, and passive strategy, were commonly used by 2-year-olds; (2) 2-year olds could use different strategies in different situations and they were able to regulate their behaviors with situations; (3) uses of strategies in different situations have different effects: the most effective strategy in a strange situation is active strategy, and help-seeking strategy to fulfill delay situation whereas attention-shifting strategy was used in separation situation; (4) there are individual discrepancies in use of strategy among children with different behavioral inhibition; and (5) children’s use of strategies are significantly correlated with the interference of mothers and the behaviors of strangers.

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