Abstract

This thesis examined children’s anticipated disclosure to parents regarding hypothetical situations of being harmed and harming a friend, along with their descriptions and evaluations of expected maternal responses. A sample of 196 children (92 boys, 104 girls) across three age groups (Mages = 8.57, 12.47, 17.58 years, respectively) responded to questions following two hypothetical conflict scenarios in which they were described as harming or being harmed by a friend (order counterbalanced). The first research aim was to examine whether children were more likely to disclose being harmed than harming a friend. Findings revealed that children were significantly more likely to disclose when they had been harmed. The second aim examined children’s expectations of maternal responses. Children expected more supportive responses and fewer negative judgments from their mothers when they had been harmed. The third aim explored whether children found maternal responses equally helpful across both events. Contrary to our expectations, children perceived their mothers’ responses as more helpful when they had harmed a friend. Lastly, the fourth aim examined how perceptions of maternal helpfulness were associated with children’s likelihood to disclose future experiences of harm. Children who perceived their mothers’ responses as more helpful were more likely to anticipate disclosing future experiences of harm. Children’s age and gender moderated some of these findings, and overall relationship quality also contributed uniquely to predicting disclosure patterns. Our study suggests disclosure of peer conflict and parent-child communication are fostered by a supportive, nonjudgmental environment in the context of high-quality, trusting relationships.