Parental emotion socialization during toddlerhood: A mixed‐methods study

Abstract Objective The present study investigated emotion socialization by parents of toddlers using convergent mixed methodology. Background Most research examining emotion‐related parenting relies on quantitative analysis of standardized questionnaires, limiting nuance and scope. More information is needed regarding parents' own perspectives on socializing young children's emotions. Method Participants were 205 parents of toddlers (94.1% mothers; M age = 32.95, SD = 5.22; 69.3% White/non‐Hispanic) who completed both a qualitative interview and standardized questionnaires about emotion‐related parenting. Parents' responses to open‐ended questions were qualitatively coded using thematic analysis. Consistent with an integrative mixed‐method approach, qualitative themes were quantified into frequency scores for statistical analysis. Correlations with self‐report questionnaires and differences by discrete emotion and child demographics (age, sex, race/ethnicity) were tested. Results Although all parents indicated that emotions are acceptable to feel, many emphasized that they should be experienced and expressed in moderation. Mixed‐methods analyses revealed links between qualitative themes and quantitative measures, as well as significant differences in distribution of qualitative themes by discrete emotion and child demographics. Conclusion Qualitative interviews revealed parents' multifaceted beliefs and behaviors regarding young children's emotions, adding nuance to quantitative findings. Implications Findings may inform practitioners' discussions of adaptive emotion socialization with parents of toddlers.