The mediator role of emotion regulation on the relationship between temperament and problem behaviors

Abstract

The aim of the current study was to explore the mediating role of emotion regulation in the relationship between temperament and problem behaviors in preschoolers. The sample was composed of 200 preschoolers ranged from 57 to 80 monthly age including 95 girls and 105 boys, and the data were collected using the Child Behavior Questionnaire Very Short Form (CBQ), Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL/CTRF) from their mothers, Emotion Regulation Checklist (ERC) from their teachers. Mediational models utilizing PROCESS MACRO established by using two dimensions of problem behaviors (internalizing/ externalizing) as criterion variables, three dimensions of temperament (negative affectivity, surgency, and effortful control) as predictor variables, and two domains of emotion regulation ( emotion regulation and emotion dysregulation) as mediators. In the mediation analyses, both two aspects of emotion regulation; emotion dysregulation, and emotion regulation did not play the mediator role on the link between temperament and problem behaviors. As the main effects, statistically significant relationships were found between temperament dimensions including negative affectivity, surgency, effortful control, and; internalizing and externalizing problem behaviors. In addition, significant positive relationships were found between dimensions of temperament involving surgency and effortful control; and emotion regulation. This study contributed to the early childhood education literature by investigating emotion regulation role on the link between temperament and problem behaviors from a developmental perspective.