Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 25, 2026
07:01
Experimental Paradigm for Measuring the Effects of Self-distancing in Young Children
Published on: March 1, 2019
8.5K
Health and Self-Regulation among School-Age Children Experiencing Family Homelessness.
Andrew J Barnes1, Theresa L Lafavor2, J J Cutuli3
1Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrics, Division of General Pediatrics and Adolescent Health, Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA. DrBarnes@umn.edu.
Children (Basel, Switzerland)
|August 5, 2017
Summary
Homeless children face adversity impacting health and behavior. Their self-regulation skills, including executive function, are linked to physical health outcomes, suggesting a resilience factor for health promotion.
Area of Science:
- Child Health
- Developmental Psychology
- Social Determinants of Health
Background:
- Homeless children experience significant adversity, increasing risks for behavioral issues and chronic health conditions.
- Limited understanding exists regarding the connection between self-regulation and health in school-aged homeless children.
- High psychosocial risk characterizes the environment for homeless families and their children.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between cognitive-emotional self-regulation and physical health in school-aged homeless children.
- To identify specific self-regulation aspects that predict health outcomes in this vulnerable population.
- To explore the role of executive function and emotional-behavioral regulation in the health of homeless children.
Main Methods:
- Assessed 86 school-aged children residing in shelters.
- Evaluated child health status, family stress and adversity, emotional-behavioral regulation, nonverbal intellectual abilities, and executive function.
- Utilized statistical analyses to determine unique predictors of physical health.
Main Results:
- Vision problems were the most common health condition, followed by chronic respiratory issues.
- Cumulative risk, child executive function, and self-regulation difficulties were uniquely associated with physical health.
- Homeless children exhibited challenges in cognitive, emotional, and behavioral regulation alongside physical health problems.
Conclusions:
- Self-regulation, encompassing executive function and emotional-behavioral regulation, is a significant factor in the physical health of homeless children aged 9-11.
- Individual differences in children's self-regulation can serve as a resilience factor.
- Health promotion initiatives for homeless families should incorporate strategies addressing children's self-regulation development.
Related Concept Videos
01:25Self-Regulation
290
Self-regulation, also known as self-control, encompasses a range of cognitive and behavioral processes that allow individuals to adjust their internal states and outward actions to align with socially acceptable norms and long-term goals. It plays a fundamental role in adaptive functioning, from resisting impulsive behaviors to persisting through challenging tasks. While its benefits are widely recognized, self-regulation is not limitless. Muraven and Baumeister's theory posits that...
290
01:18Sources of Self-Esteem I: Family Experience
209
Self-esteem, a crucial component of psychological development, is significantly shaped by familial experiences. The early parent-child relationship serves as a foundational influence on a child's self-concept, with long-lasting effects extending into adolescence and adulthood.Parental Behaviors and Early Self-Esteem FormationEmpirical studies have identified four principal parental behaviors that foster healthy self-esteem in children. These include expressions of acceptance, affection, and...
209
03:00Self-Evaluation: Self-Enhancement and Self-Verification
5.8K
Social psychologists have documented that feeling good about ourselves and maintaining positive self-esteem is a powerful motivator of human behavior (Tavris & Aronson, 2008). In the United States, members of the predominant culture typically think very highly of themselves and view themselves as good people who are above average on many desirable traits (Ehrlinger, Gilovich, & Ross, 2005). Often, our behavior, attitudes, and beliefs are affected when we experience a threat to our...
5.8K
02:45Self-Discrepancy Theory
19.0K
One influential perspective on what motivates people's behavior is detailed in Tory Higgin's self-discrepancy theory (Higgins, 1987). He proposed that people hold disagreeing internal representations of themselves that lead to different emotional states.
19.0K
01:20Social Foundations of Self II: The Generalized Other
292
According to George Herbert Mead, as children progress beyond the game stage, they develop a more comprehensive understanding of societal rules and norms. This cognitive and social development enables them to internalize the expectations of the broader community, refining their ability to regulate behavior.Consistent participation in organized activities is crucial in helping children recognize that their actions are not isolated but contribute to a more significant, interconnected group...
292
01:24Sources of Self-Esteem II: Performance Feedback
202
Self-esteem is intricately tied to our perception of competence and our ability to exert control over our lives. One of the primary sources of this perception is performance feedback — the ongoing evaluation of our actions in terms of success and failure. According to Franks and Marolla (1976), people derive self-worth from experiencing themselves as causal agents, capable of achieving goals and overcoming obstacles. This process nurtures a critical component of self-esteem:...
202