%0 Journal Article
%T Maternal mental state language is associated with trajectories of Chinese immigrant childrenĄ¯s emotion situation knowledge
%A Helen Y. Lee
%A Qi Wang
%A Stacey N. Doan
%J International Journal of Behavioral Development
%@ 1464-0651
%D 2019
%R 10.1177/0165025418783271
%X We investigated the role of mothersĄ¯ references to mental states and behaviors and childrenĄ¯s emotion situation knowledge (ESK) in a prospective, cross-cultural context. European American mothers (n = 71) and Chinese immigrant mothers (n = 60) and their children participated in the study. Maternal references to mental states and behaviors were assessed at Time 1 when children were three years of age. ESK was assessed when children were 3, 3.5, and 4.5 years of age. Multi-group latent growth curve analyses were used to model childrenĄ¯s growth in ESK over time, as well as relations between mental state language and references to behaviors on childrenĄ¯s trajectories. Results indicated that maternal references to mental states were associated with concurrent levels of ESK for European American children, and change over time for the Chinese immigrant children. Maternal references to behaviors were negatively associated with concurrent ESK for both groups
%K Mental state language
%K emotion understanding
%K culture
%K behaviors
%U https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/0165025418783271