title: Capturing the temporal sequence of interaction in young siblings.
abstract: We explored whether young children exhibit subtypes of behavioral sequences during sibling interaction. Ten-minute, free-play observations of over 300 sibling dyads were coded for positivity, negativity and disengagement. The data were analyzed using growth mixture modeling (GMM). Younger (18-month-old) children's temporal behavioral sequences showed a harmonious (53%) and a casual (47%) class. Older (approximately four-year-old) children's behavior was more differentiated revealing a harmonious (25%), a deteriorating (31%), a recovery (22%) and a casual (22%) class. A more positive maternal affective climate was associated with more positive patterns. Siblings' sequential behavioral patterns tended to be complementary rather than reciprocal in nature. The study illustrates a novel use of GMM and makes a theoretical contribution by showing that young children exhibit distinct types of temporal behavioral sequences that are related to parenting processes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Development and Applied Psychology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada.
authors.forename: Michal
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Perlman
authors.affiliation: Centre for Multilevel Modeling, Graduate School of Education, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lyons-Amos
authors.affiliation: Centre for Multilevel Modeling, Graduate School of Education, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Leckie
authors.affiliation: Centre for Multilevel Modeling, Graduate School of Education, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Fiona
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Steele
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Development and Applied Psychology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada.
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jenkins
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002652:Child Behavior; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D012801:Sibling Relations