title: The regulating role of negative emotions in children's coping with peer rejection.
abstract: This study examined the role of emotions as predictors of children's coping responses to peer rejection experiences. Children ages 7-12 (N = 79) completed questionnaires to assess emotional and coping responses to peer rejection scenarios. This study examined three coping factors specific to peer rejection (positive reappraisal, ruminative coping, and aggressive coping) and examined results separately for two negative peer experiences (teasing and exclusion). Children's emotions predicted coping responses after controlling for peer experiences. Specifically, anger was associated with aggressive coping, whereas sadness was associated with ruminative coping, supporting theory that emotions have distinct motivational-behavioral properties. Peer experiences were also important, as victimization was associated with aggressive coping, and receipt of prosocial peer behaviors was associated with positive reappraisal. These findings provide an empirical foundation for future research and the development of interventions to facilitate adaptive reactions to peer rejection.
authors.affiliation: Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA. kimgoodman@jhu.edu
authors.forename: Kimberly L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Goodman
authors.forename: Michael A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Southam-Gerow
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D002648:Child; D004644:Emotions; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D010379:Peer Group; D012059:Rejection, Psychology; D012931:Social Environment; D012934:Social Isolation / Q000523:psychology*; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
references.citation: J Consult Clin Psychol. 2000 Dec;68(6):976-92
references.pmid: 11142550
references.citation: Child Dev. 2005 Mar-Apr;76(2):435-50
references.pmid: 15784092
references.citation: Child Dev. 2004 Mar-Apr;75(2):377-94
references.pmid: 15056194
references.citation: J Adolesc. 2005 Oct;28(5):619-31
references.pmid: 16203199
references.citation: Br J Educ Psychol. 2004 Dec;74(Pt 4):565-81
references.pmid: 15530202
references.citation: J Pers Soc Psychol. 1996 Apr;70(4):780-96
references.pmid: 8636898
references.citation: J Abnorm Child Psychol. 2004 Feb;32(1):67-81
references.pmid: 14998112
references.citation: Dev Psychopathol. 2002 Fall;14(4):761-87
references.pmid: 12549703
references.citation: Dev Psychol. 2001 Jul;37(4):550-60
references.pmid: 11444490
references.citation: Psychol Bull. 2002 Sep;128(5):796-824
references.pmid: 12206195
references.citation: J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2006 Aug;45(8):892-903
references.pmid: 16865031
references.citation: J Pers Soc Psychol. 2008 Jun;94(6):925-37
references.pmid: 18505309
references.citation: J Consult Clin Psychol. 1998 Apr;66(2):337-47
references.pmid: 9583337
references.citation: J Pers Soc Psychol. 1985 Jan;48(1):150-70
references.pmid: 2980281
references.citation: J Abnorm Child Psychol. 2004 Apr;32(2):147-58
references.pmid: 15164857
references.citation: Child Dev. 1995 Jun;66(3):710-22
references.pmid: 7789197
references.citation: Clin Psychol Rev. 2002 Mar;22(2):189-222
references.pmid: 11806019
references.citation: Psychol Bull. 2001 Jan;127(1):87-127
references.pmid: 11271757
references.citation: Science. 2003 Oct 10;302(5643):290-2
references.pmid: 14551436
references.citation: J Clin Child Adolesc Psychol. 2007 Oct-Dec;36(4):621-8
references.pmid: 18088219
references.citation: Child Dev. 1996 Oct;67(5):2317-27
references.pmid: 9022243
references.citation: Pers Soc Psychol Rev. 2005;9(3):212-30
references.pmid: 16083361
references.citation: Child Dev. 2003 Mar-Apr;74(2):374-93
references.pmid: 12705561
references.citation: Annu Rev Psychol. 1999;50:333-59
references.pmid: 10074682
references.citation: Psychol Bull. 2006 Jan;132(1):98-131
references.pmid: 16435959
references.citation: Psychol Assess. 2002 Sep;14(3):339-52
references.pmid: 12214440
references.citation: Child Dev. 2004 Mar-Apr;75(2):317-33
references.pmid: 15056186
references.citation: Dev Psychol. 1997 Jul;33(4):589-600
references.pmid: 9232374
references.citation: Dev Psychol. 1999 Jan;35(1):69-79
references.pmid: 9923465
references.citation: Dev Psychol. 2002 Mar;38(2):267-78
references.pmid: 11881761
references.citation: Child Dev. 1999 Jul-Aug;70(4):955-66
references.pmid: 10446728