Copingstrategieën, Ouderlijke factoren en Sekse in Relatie met Zelfcontrole bij Jonge Kinderen

Abstract

The development of self-control has been linked to later life outcomes, such as risk-taking behaviours and social competence. Therefore, it is important to gain knowledge about various coping strategies children use to attain self-control. The present study examines the contribution of visual, motor, and verbal coping strategies as possible associates of delay ability in two- to six-year-old children (N=5). Furthermore, this study investigates relations between parental factors such as ethnicity of parents and parental education, and the degree of self-control in three- to five-year-old children (N=723). In both investigations, delay of gratification tasks are conducted to asses self-control. The results of this study suggest that visual, motor, and verbal coping strategies are important contributors to the emergence of self-control. However, visual and motor coping behaviours are more frequently used in the exertion of self-control than verbal coping behaviours. A notable effect of sex is found, with girls performing better on delay of gratification tasks than boys. In addition, parental ethnicity appears to have no or little influence on self-control. However, parental education does influence the self-control of young children, but the course is not clear. Nevertheless, follow-up research is essential to draw unambiguous conclusions. This study therefore also provides recommendations for future research.