Abstract

The goal of this study was to explore the ways in which mothers discuss their children’s responsibility for protecting themselves in situations when they are harmed by the words or actions of a peer. Specifically, this study addressed the following research questions: 1. What are the descriptive features of mothers’ statements regarding their children’s responsibility for self-protection in the context of conversations about peer conflict? 2. Are these descriptive features differentially related to various negative psychosocial outcomes (guilt and shame proneness, self-blaming tendencies, and depressive symptomology)? The study was based on a sample of 105 mother-child dyads, divided into three groups based on the child’s age (i.e., 6-7, 10-11, 15-16). Each dyad discussed two peer conflict experiences nominated by the child. Mothers’ statements about children’s responsibility for protecting themselves from harm were coded along several dimensions; specifically, with respect to tone/evaluation, as well as types of attributions, time orientations, mindsets, and coping strategies. All of these dimensions were theorized to be differentially related to psychosocial outcomes based on the literature. Children also completed a series of psychosocial measures (guilt- and shame-proneness, self-blaming tendencies, depressive symptomology). Results indicated that overall, mothers tended to employ strategies, which are considered more adaptive for children, but that mothers’ self-protective statements were not differentially related to psychosocial outcomes in children. These findings shed light on the socialization processes related to children’s responsibility for self-protection used by mothers in the context of conversations about harm.
Keywords: mother-child relationships, conversation, peer conflict, psychosocial outcomes, responsibility, self-blame