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Children showing signs of social withdrawal are more susceptible to parental influences than others. These children were also more prone to distress caused by the impacts of guilt-inducing parenting.
The researchers of the University of Jyväskylä, Finland followed up about 300 children across the first three years of primary school and monitored the children's social skills and problem behaviors. At the same time, mothers' and fathers' parenting styles were assessed.
The results showed that children showing signs of social withdrawal in kindergarten were more prone to parental impacts later on in school than others. For example, a low level of maternal affection was evident as an increased level of conduct problems among socially withdrawn children in particular. These children were also more prone to the impacts of guilt-inducing parenting deployed by mothers and fathers: guilt-inducing parenting of either parent increased internalized distress and depressive symptoms clearly more among socially withdrawn children than among other children.
On the other hand, the results surprisingly showed that guilt-inducing parenting deployed by mothers decreased the conduct problems of socially withdrawn children. The researchers suggest that children showing signs of social withdrawal may have a heightened risk of pleasing their parents at the cost of their own well-being.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/06/140612085124.htm
Abstract at Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jcpp.12251/abstract
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