Low self-esteem and impairments in emotion recognition predict behavioural problems in children

Wells, Amy E., Hunnikin, Laura M., Ash, Daniel P ORCID: 0000-0002-7486-2127 and van Goozen, Stephanie H. M. (2020) Low self-esteem and impairments in emotion recognition predict behavioural problems in children. Journal of Psychopathology and Behavioral Assessment, 42 (4). pp. 693-701. doi:10.1007/s10862-020-09814-7

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Abstract

Research indicates that low self-esteem and impaired emotion recognition are risk factors for antisocial behaviour (ASB). Selfesteem and emotion recognition are essential for successful social interaction and previous research suggests that self-esteem and emotional intelligence are positively related. However, to our knowledge the relationship between these two risk factors for ASB has not been explored in children with behavioural problems. Thus, this study investigated self-esteem and emotion recognition, their relationship with one another and with behavioural problem severity. Participants were 8–11 year olds with behavioural problems (BP; n = 78) who were taking part in an early intervention program, and typically developing controls (TD; n = 54). Participants completed a self-esteem questionnaire and a computerised emotion recognition task. Teachers and parents rated children’s emotional and behavioural problems. BP participants had significantly lower self-esteem and exhibited an impairment in emotion recognition. Self-esteem and emotion recognition were positively related and inversely associated with behavioural problem severity and they predicted behaviour problems independently of one another. This is the first study to show that self esteem and emotion recognition are related processes in children with behavioural problems and that both predict behavioural problems. This has important implications for the development of intervention strategies

Item Type:	Article
Article Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Behavioural problems; Anti-social behaviour; Self-esteem; Self-perception; Emotion recognition; Peer relationships; Self-enhancing bias
Subjects:	B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BF Psychology H Social Sciences > HV Social pathology. Social and public welfare. Criminology.
Divisions:	Schools and Research Institutes > School of Education and Science
Research Priority Areas:	Society and Learning
Depositing User:	Daniel Ash
Date Deposited:	17 Jan 2022 15:02
Last Modified:	01 Sep 2023 15:25
URI:	https://eprints.glos.ac.uk/id/eprint/10569

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