Mother-child similarity during observed interactions: Links with mother and child effortful control.

Objective: We examined whether mothers' and child's regulatory capacity, measured by effortful control (EC) and its facets, is associated with variance in mother-child within-dyad similarity in multiple aspects of positive emotions and behaviors during their interaction. Background: Both parents' and children's self-regulation capacities may help them to modulate their behaviors and emotions to be mutually responsive to and harmonious with their interaction partner. Methods: Participants were children of 3- to-7-year-olds and their mothers ( Results: Mothers' general EC was statistically associated with greater mother-child similarity, but children's EC was not. When testing the subscales of EC, greater mother-child similarity was associated with mother's higher attentional control, child's better attention focusing, child's lower levels of low intensity pleasure, and older child age. Conclusion: Mother's higher attentional control and child's better attention focusing are associated with greater mother and child within-dyad similarity during their interactions. Implications: This study highlights the importance of considering child and mother self-regulation for intervention efforts to better understand how dyads match and co-modulate their behaviors and emotions during their interactions.