This study aims to investigate whether parental sensitivity is related to the level of correspondence within parent-child dyads in terms of the strategies that they use while monitoring animations...Show moreThis study aims to investigate whether parental sensitivity is related to the level of correspondence within parent-child dyads in terms of the strategies that they use while monitoring animations of social interactions. Higher levels of synchrony, or the level of correspondence in behavior between parents and their children, is related to better social and emotional developmental outcomes for the children. In total, 69 parents and their 12-months-old baby’s participated in an eye-tracking study, in which an animation was shown that depicted a situation, wherein a “baby figure” shows distress after it is separated from a “parent figure”. This so-called separation segment of the animation was followed by the so-called response segment, wherein either a reunion or further separation of the two characters was shown. Both the parental sensitivity during free-play and the relative fixation duration to the “parent figure” in regards to the “baby figure” were measured. Within this study, no relationship between parental sensitivity and the level of correspondence in monitoring strategies has been found. Moreover, there was no proof for the statement that overall the monitoring strategies of parents and their children correspond with each other while watching animations that depict a social interaction. The baby’s tend to look more at the “parent figure” than their parents do. The focus on the “parent figure” increased from the separation segment to the response segment, for both the parents and their baby’s, although this increase in fixation is bigger for the parents than for their baby’s. These results imply that further research into the possible precursors or influences on the correspondence of behaviors within parent-child dyads is necessary.Show less
This thesis investigates how verbal transmission of stranger anxiety from parents to children shapes their fear beliefs and explores how parental social anxiety might moderate this effect. Seventy...Show moreThis thesis investigates how verbal transmission of stranger anxiety from parents to children shapes their fear beliefs and explores how parental social anxiety might moderate this effect. Seventy-seven participants between the ages of 10 to 14 and their caregivers were involved in this experimental study. Participants were exposed to conditions involving threat and safety information, assessing the impact of parental verbal expressions. Questionnaires measuring social anxiety and fear beliefs were completed by both parents and children. The study found that parental expressions of threat significantly increased fear beliefs in children compared to safety information. However, parental social anxiety did not significantly moderate this effect, suggesting a complex relationship that deviates from previous assumptions. While parental influence was evident, the expected direct correlation between parental anxiety levels and children their fear beliefs was not supported. These findings highlight the need to examine other aspects of parental influence beyond direct verbal communication. This study underscores the importance of considering various factors in understanding social anxiety transmission, including non-verbal communication and broader familial contexts. The implications for interventions underline the role of parental communication in preventing social anxiety in children, emphasizing strategies that encourage positive communication and effective anxiety management among parents. Overall, this thesis contributes to the understanding of the nuanced interactions between parental social anxiety, verbal transmission and children their fear beliefs.Show less
