Abstract: One powerful capacity that enables people to successfully cope with stress is their ability to regulate their emotions, thoughts, and behaviors (i.e., self-regulation). Young children learn self-regulation, in large part, through daily parent-child interactions which stimulates the development of long term regulatory functioning. However, contextual stressors can spill over to disrupt parent-child relationships and this disruption is thought to be a primary mechanism by which early stress initiates poorer mental and physical health outcomes. This talk will discuss mothers’ external regulation of child functioning, as well as explore contextual stressors that lead to mother and child dysregulation.

Leah Hibel is an Associate Professor of Human Development and Family Studies at UC Davis and Center for Poverty Research Faculty Affiliate. Issues surrounding diversity are central to her research, teaching, and outreach. Professor Hibel’s research attempts to fill important gaps in our understanding of adverse social and economic experiences on child and family well-being. In particular, she has studied underserved populations such as those in rural settings, families in poverty, African American families, Hispanic families, maltreated children, and families with shift working parents.