Parent Reactions to Negative Emotions and Toddler Shyness As Interacting Correlates of Internalizing Behaviors and Social Competence in Toddlerhood

We examined relations among parent-reported reactions to toddlers’ negative emotions, shyness, and adjustment in a sample of shy and non-shy 2-year-olds. Results indicated that parental reactions were not associated with adjustment in non-shy toddlers. However, for shy toddlers, parental distress reactions and emotion-focused reactions were associated with greater internalizing behaviors.