Dissertation
BOREDOM IN EARLY CHILDHOOD: LINKS TO SELF-REGULATION, INSIGHTS INTO COPING, AND EXPLORATION OF PARENTAL FACTORS
Washington State University
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Washington State University
01/2022
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.7273/000004425
Handle:
https://hdl.handle.net/2376/118871
Abstract
Boredom is a ubiquitous negative emotion. While most people occasionally experience boredom, people high in trait boredom are bored more frequently or have difficulty tolerating boredom. This was the first study to examine trait boredom in early childhood. Research with adults has identified two types of trait boredom which are linked to different motivational systems involved in self-regulation. Boredom susceptibility is associated with the behavioral activation system (BAS), which is sensitive to reward, whereas boredom proneness is associated with the behavioral inhibition system (BIS), which is sensitive to punishment (Gray, 1972, 1981; Mercer-Lynn et al., 2014). High levels of boredom proneness and susceptibility are associated with negative outcomes (e.g., anxiety, depression, substance use; Mercer-Lynn et al., 2014). Understanding whether these types of trait boredom are present in early childhood has implications for early intervention. Study 1 tested whether both types of trait boredom are observable in early childhood and show similar relations with BAS/BIS and executive function as observed in adults. Boredom susceptibility was positively associated with BAS sensitivity, while boredom proneness was marginally positively associated with BIS sensitivity. Study 2 investigated which strategies children employed to cope with boredom. Most children used social stimulation strategies (e.g., asking someone to play) and behavioral strategies (e.g., reading a book). Children’s boredom coping abilities were an important predictor of boredom proneness. Study 3 tested whether parental factors, such as modeling and boredom-related coaching, were associated with trait boredom in children. No significant findings were observed. This dissertation provides a foundation for future research on the origins and development of trait boredom and illustrates the need for early interventions to reduce trait boredom by helping children build effective coping skills. Further, this study illustrates differences in foundational regulatory processes for children high in trait boredom that suggests a need for tailored interventions for each type of trait boredom. Children high in boredom proneness may need help developing interests and strategies that will enable them to regulate boredom independently. Children high in boredom susceptibility may require coaching to help them tolerate boredom when it arises and determine an appropriate coping strategy.
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Details
- Title
- BOREDOM IN EARLY CHILDHOOD
- Creators
- Alana J Anderson
- Contributors
- Sammy Perone (Advisor)Elizabeth H Weybright (Committee Member)Maria Gartstein (Committee Member)Sara F Waters (Committee Member)
- Awarding Institution
- Washington State University
- Academic Unit
- Department of Human Development
- Theses and Dissertations
- Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Washington State University
- Publisher
- Washington State University
- Number of pages
- 137
- Identifiers
- 99900883239801842
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Dissertation