Social Relationships and Children's Perceptions of Adversity

Overview

Journal Child Dev Perspect

Date 2022 Jul 25

PMID 35873906

Authors

Karen E Smith

Seth D Pollak

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Having sensitive, contingent, and supportive social relationships has been linked to more positive outcomes after experiences of early childhood adversity. Traditionally, social relationships are construed as moderators that buffer children from the effects of exposure to adverse events. However, recent data support an alternative view: that supportive social relationships influence children's later outcomes by shaping their perceptions of safety and stress, regardless of the particular events to which children are exposed. This perspective has implications for understanding vulnerability and resilience in children.

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