ERIC Number: EJ999842
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2013-May
Pages: 11
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1062-1024
EISSN: N/A
Available Date: N/A
Delay of Gratification in Two- and Three-Year-Olds: Associations with Attachment, Personality, and Temperament
Mittal, Renu; Russell, Beth S.; Britner, Preston A.; Peake, Philip K.
Journal of Child and Family Studies, v22 n4 p479-489 May 2013
Delay of gratification in young children has been linked to long-term behavioral and academic outcomes. This study explored temperament, personality, and child-parent attachment as possible associates of delay ability. The sample consisted of 50 2- and 3-year-old children and their primary caregivers. Two laboratory tasks, the Preschool Strange Situation and the newly created Gift Delay Task, were conducted on separate occasions to assess child-parent attachment and delay of gratification, respectively. Parents and preschool teachers completed child temperament (EASI-III) and personality (California Child Q-Set) questionnaires. Based on the award-oriented behavior in the Gift Delay Task, children were classified into three groups: Delay (20%), Touch and Go (i.e., approached the gift, but demonstrated some delay ability; 46%), and Non Delay (34 %). Reports on activity, impulsivity, decision time, negative emotionality, over-control, and affect were found to be associated with delay ability. The association between child-parent attachment and delay was not statistically significant, but an interesting trend emerged. A larger percentage of Non Delayers were rated as Insecure-Ambivalent ("C"), and more Delayers were rated as Securely attached ("B"). Implications for behavioral interventions focused on parental support and scaffolding are discussed.
Descriptors: Parent Child Relationship, Personality Traits, Caregivers, Preschool Teachers, Delay of Gratification, Young Children, Child Behavior, Attachment Behavior, Questionnaires, Correlation
Springer. 233 Spring Street, New York, NY 10013. Tel: 800-777-4643; Tel: 212-460-1500; Fax: 212-348-4505; e-mail: service-ny@springer.com; Web site: http://www.springerlink.com
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Assessments and Surveys: California Child Q Set
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: N/A