How you interact with your kid could shape how they play with their peers
The way parents and their children play together may be the framework for how kids will treat other children, according to a recent study from the University of Georgia.
Figuring out how to approach new social situations is key for toddlers, and research suggests that caregivers play a big part in giving kids a script to draw from.
The new study found the way mothers and toddlers interacted during play predicted how the children later interacted with other kids.
“It’s not just what the mom does when they’re interacting, and it’s not just what the child does when they’re interacting,” said Niyantri Ravindran, lead author of the study and an assistant professor in UGA’s College of Family and Consumer Sciences. “It’s really about how their behaviors are occurring together. That back-and-forth dialogue between the mother and child is contributing to how children are interacting with their peers.”
Caretakers help kids practice for future social situations
The researchers focused on two main types of behavior in 120 toddler-aged children: responsiveness and assertiveness. They followed the children through their preschool days, examining how they interacted with their friends while playing, and later paired them with both new kids, and close friends.
Children who were receptive to the suggestions of their playmate and enthusiastic about playing with them scored high on responsiveness.
Mothers and children had a strong connection if the mother was sensitive to the child’s behavior and the child responded positively. When they showed this dynamic during play, those children were more likely to show the same responsiveness with their friends.
Similarly, when mothers were sensitive and children were assertive during play, those children were more likely to be assertive with kids they didn’t know. While many may think assertive behavior equals aggressive behavior, assertiveness in this study meant that the children took initiative, like inviting another kid to play or coming up with ideas for games.
“You don’t want a child to be completely only compliant and never really taking the initiative,” said Ravindran. “Neither do you want a child who is bossy and never listening to the other kids’ suggestions. Having a balance between those two behaviors could help result in more socially competent children.”
Caregivers play a large role in how children develop social skills and not just because they are their children’s primary role models. How kids and parents interact serves as practice for new social situations.
“You’re going to guide your child, teach them and show them how to do things, but it’s also just as important to follow their lead sometimes,” said Ravindran. “That can really help balance out those behaviors.”
This study was published in Developmental Psychology and co-authored by Nancy L. McElwain of the University of Illinois’ Department of Human Development and Family Studies.
Writer: Sydney Barrilleaux
Contact: Niyantri Ravindran, niyantri.ravindran@uga.edu
Drew Abney bridges parenting, teaching & psychology through research
There’s a common thread between parenting, teaching, statistics, and engineering for Drew Abney.
Growing up in the Chicago suburbs, he always dreamed of being a high school teacher— specifically, a wood shop and engineering design teacher. His mother, however, had a different future in mind for him.
“My mom used to say I should be a psychologist because I was that friend in high school who everyone went to with their problems and talked them through it,” said Abney, associate professor in the Franklin College of Arts & Sciences Department of Psychology. “And when I was working on my master’s degree, I found myself reading a lot of books on cognition, behavior, and neuroscience.”
While working on his master’s in education, Abney took a statistics class that, surprisingly, made his passing interest in psychology seem like a possible career option. It was the first time in his life he felt he excelled at math. He saw how statistics correlated with the research he was reading about, such as quantifying the probability of behavior changes, and began to consider a different path.
“My mom was sort of right, although she thought I was going to be a clinical psychologist. Still, she likes to remind me she always knew I’d do this,” Abney said.
Abney earned a master’s in experimental psychology and a Ph.D. in cognitive and information sciences, studying at the intersection of experimental psychology and computer science. His current psychology research is the culmination of these past skills.
Beginning with his dissertation, Abney has focused on modeling and quantifying human interaction. The interactions between infants and their caregivers led him to developmental psychology, for which he received a James S. McDonnell Foundation grant to study sensory-motor development during infant sleep.
“Every parent worries about sleep and how their child sleeps, and the developmental trajectories of sleep have always been a fascinating area of research that I wanted to get into,” he said.
As luck would have it, a perfect pilot subject came into Abney’s life around that time: his own daughter.
“Before she was born, I was an expert in developmental psychology, but I wasn’t an expert in parenting,” he said. “It was exciting to watch the different developmental milestones play out before my eyes, not just as a psychologist but as a father.”
While he was developing a sleep room for subjects, Abney’s daughter indicated discomfort in the lab. Abney realized that the best way to study infant sleep would be in their natural home environment.
The research team pivoted to recording infant naps over four sessions during home visits in the local Athens community, using a mobile lab setup.
Initially, the work was difficult. Abney and his team were used to conducting studies in a more controlled environment. They were able to make it work, however, with an infrared camera and mobile electrocardiogram (ECG) system.
During these home visits, Abney’s team uses sensors that monitor infant movements during the rest of the day and artificial intelligence to classify babies’ movements. This allows them to analyze and model movement dynamics during sleep and while they are awake. While home visits were not part of the original study design, Abney said they improved ecological validity since they capture better-quality sleep data in infants’ home environments.
In spring 2024, Abney received the university-wide Charles B. Knapp Early Career Scholar Award for his research. He’s also become a rising star in the classroom; since arriving at UGA in 2020, he has won two Outstanding Teaching Awards from the Department of Psychology.
Abney brings these skills to bear in unique ways, and it still goes back to his interest in statistics.
“I really love teaching statistics at the undergraduate and graduate levels, which not all undergraduate students in psychology are excited about and I accept that,” Abney said. “But what I love about teaching statistics is it’s just a great way to build hands-on skills that are translatable to careers right out of the gate with a bachelor’s degree.”
“Human behavior touches just about every field you can think of, whether it’s economics or political science or sociology. [For people] going into the academic study of psychology, I would encourage them to think more outside their disciplines, [for example] about emerging trends in artificial intelligence and how you can use tools from artificial intelligence to study human behavior.”
Article written by Emily Tingle
Rawal, Smita
Rawal, Smita
Postdoctoral Research Associate, Clinical & Administrative Pharmacy
website | sr54982@uga.edu
Research Interests: Bias, Discrimination, and Inequality, Chronic Disease, Diversity, Geographic Information Systems, Mental Health, Mental Illness and Disorders, Physical Health and Well-being, Risk Behaviors, Substance Use and Addiction, Survey Methods
From Burnout to Balance: Understanding Workaholism with Malissa Clark
In today’s fast-paced world, the pressure to always stay connected to work is unmistakable. Many believe that competing with top professionals requires embracing long hours and an intense work ethic. However, Malissa Clark, OIBR Distinguished Scholar and Associate Professor of I/O Psychology at the University of Georgia, challenges this notion in her groundbreaking book, “Never Not Working.” Clark, a leading researcher on overwork culture, argues that this mindset is both harmful and ineffective for individuals and organizations.
The Illusion of Productivity
The societal and organizational endorsement of busyness and overwork is evident in both explicit demands, such as Elon Musk’s call for “long hours at high intensity,” and in subtler cultural norms that promote constant connectivity through technology. Clark’s research reveals that this behavior does not equate to higher productivity. A meta-analysis conducted by Clark found no significant relationship between workaholism and job performance. This startling finding challenges the ingrained belief that more work equals better results.
Understanding Workaholism
Clark examines the core of workaholism, presenting an in-depth definition that dispels common misconceptions. She emphasizes that simply working long hours does not make one a workaholic. The phenomenon is more about an unhealthy obsession with work to the detriment of one’s well-being and personal life. Through her extensive research, including 50 interviews with spouses of workaholics and members of Workaholics Anonymous, Clark highlights the detrimental effects of this obsession on mental and physical health, relationships, and overall job performance.
Strategies for Recovery
A notable feature of “Never Not Working” is Clark’s practical advice for overcoming workaholism. She introduces the concept of “working light,” where individuals incorporate work into leisure activities to reduce its perceived burden. For example, one interviewee justified working while enjoying a glass of wine, thinking it made the task less arduous. Clark herself admitted to working while watching TV, acknowledging that this approach hindered genuine relaxation.
To counter these tendencies, Clark recommends several actionable steps:
- Set Boundaries with Technology: Turn off email notifications outside work hours and remove work apps from your phone.
- Model Healthy Behavior: Leaders should avoid sending emails on weekends and encourage their teams to take breaks.
- Foster a Positive Work Culture: Organizations should rethink what they value and reward. Promotions and praise should focus on the quality and impact of work rather than the number of hours worked.
Organizational Changes
Clark also explores how organizations inadvertently promote workaholism by rewarding employees who spend the most time in the office. To counteract this, she suggests that leaders should foster a culture focused on creativity and strategic thinking instead of one driven by constant crisis and urgency.
Personal Insights and Reflections
Clark shared her journey and the challenges of writing her book. Despite her extensive academic background, she found the process of gathering personal stories from workaholics and their families both enlightening and validating. Her connection to the topic is deeply personal, as she identified her tendencies towards workaholism early in her career.
Conclusion
Clark envisions several changes for the future of workaholism:
- Reduce Workweek Hours: While technology has increased efficiency, we remain bound by the century-old 40-hour, 5-day workweek. Henry Ford’s introduction of the five-day workweek in 1926 was once revolutionary. Today, the movement toward a 4-day workweek may seem similarly bold, but perhaps it’s simply overdue.
- Focus on Output Over Input: Shift away from measuring performance by long hours.
- Redefine the Ideal Worker: We currently view the ideal worker as someone who prioritizes work above everything else, puts in long hours, and is always available no matter the day or time. Let’s celebrate employees who produce good products but also take care of themselves and their well-being.
“Never Not Working” is not just a book; it’s a call to action. Malissa Clark’s research and insights provide a vital roadmap for individuals and organizations to recognize and overcome the unhealthy patterns of overwork. By adopting the strategies she outlines, we can move towards a healthier, more sustainable relationship with work, where productivity and well-being go hand in hand.
Written by: Andrea Horsman
Revolutionizing Children’s Health: The Virtual Fitness Buddy Ecosystem
Engaging children in regular physical activity is crucial for building lifelong healthy habits. Recognizing this, OIBR Distinguished Scholar, Sun Joo (Grace) Ahn, Professor of advertising and public relations at the University of Georgia and the director of the Center for Advanced Computer-Human Ecosystems (CACHE), and a team of researchers developed an innovative intervention known as the Virtual Fitness Buddy (VFB) ecosystem. Thanks in part to a $3.3 million grant from the National Institutes of Health, researchers are using mixed reality to help children develop a more active lifestyle. This 6-year cutting-edge program leveraged mixed reality technology to help children set and achieve physical activity goals, transforming sedentary behavior into light-intensity activity. Here’s how this exciting new approach works and why it matters.
The Need for Early Intervention
Children aged 6 to 11 are at a pivotal stage for establishing healthy behaviors that can last into adulthood. Unfortunately, many children do not get enough physical activity, which can lead to obesity and other health issues. Intervening during this critical window can significantly improve long-term health outcomes.
What is the Virtual Fitness Buddy Ecosystem?
The VFB ecosystem is a precision health physical activity intervention that combines technology with personalized support. At its core is a virtual dog that interacts with children through a mixed-reality kiosk. This virtual companion helps children set physical activity goals, provides real-time feedback, and encourages progress through encouragement and playtime with the children. The system also involves parents, who receive updates and can send motivational messages to their children.
How It Works
1. Setting Goals: Children in the intervention group use the mixed reality kiosk to set their physical activity goals with the help of their virtual dog. This process is designed to foster a sense of autonomy, as children are encouraged to set their own goals.
2. Tracking Progress: The virtual dog monitors children’s physical activity through wearable devices like Fitbits. It adjusts its behavior based on the child’s activity levels, becoming more energetic and responsive as the child meets their goals.
3. Parental Involvement: Parents receive notifications about their child’s progress and can send encouraging messages via the kiosk. Along with the virtual dog’s social support, parental involvement helps to build an additional layer of supportive environment that promotes sustained physical activity.
The Study
The efficacy of the VFB ecosystem was tested in a cluster randomized controlled trial involving 303 children from 19 afterschool sites over two six-month cohorts. The study compared children using the VFB system to a control group who set and met physical activity goals using a computer without the virtual dog’s support.
Results
The study found that the VFB ecosystem significantly increased physical activity and reduced sedentary behavior in children, particularly those with low baseline levels of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity. Children in the treatment group showed a substantial conversion of sedentary time to light-intensity physical activity. These effects were most pronounced at the three-month mark, although some benefits were sustained at six months.
Why It Matters
The VFB ecosystem represents a promising new approach to promoting physical activity in children. Combining technology with personalized support and parental involvement, it addresses the motivational needs identified by self-determination theory. This theory emphasizes the importance of autonomy, competence, and relatedness in fostering intrinsic motivation for behavior change.
Conclusion
The Virtual Fitness Buddy ecosystem shows great potential for helping children build healthier lifestyles through engaging and supportive technology. By turning physical activity into a fun and interactive experience, this intervention can make a significant impact on public health. With further development and wider implementation, the VFB ecosystem could play a crucial role in combating childhood obesity and promoting long-term health.
Source: Nature
Written by: Andrea Horsman
July 23, 2024
Jenny Claire Carey Promoted to Post Award Operations Manager
We are delighted to announce the promotion of Jenny Claire Carey to the position of Post Award Operations Manager. Jenny Claire has shown exceptional dedication and expertise in her work with grants, making her an invaluable member of our team. Her passion and desire to embrace new challenges have driven her to this well-deserved promotion.
When asked why she was interested in this new position, Jenny Claire said, “I was interested in the Post Award Operations Manager position because I enjoy the work that I do with grants but was ready to welcome new challenges with this role. I also really enjoy my colleagues and would like to continue working with them as I grow in my career.”
In her new role, Jenny Claire’s responsibilities will expand significantly. “In addition to the oversight of a vast and complex grant management caseload, I am now overseeing departmental operating budgets, annual budget development, internally funded seed grants, and pilot grants, as well as serving on the OIBR Management Team,” she explained. This role will allow her to leverage her extensive experience and skills in new and impactful ways.
Jenny Claire attributes her promotion to the skills and experiences she has gained over the years. “Over the last few years, I worked with Paula McIntyre, who was previously in this position, to gain a better understanding of the business processes within the Institute that I didn’t necessarily see working with grants alone. I’ve also taken on the Institute’s largest and most complex grants and continually asked for new projects and challenges because I believe doing the work is the best way to gain skills and experience.”
Looking forward, Jenny Claire hopes to be a supportive and collaborative leader. “I hope to be someone that the OIBR team feels confident to come to with questions and issues and am hopeful that we will be able to collaborate and continue OIBR’s success.”
Please join us in congratulating Jenny Claire Carey on her promotion and wishing her continued success in her new role!
Family stress can lead to work-related guilt for military
Study highlights how family dynamics impact work-related stress and enrichment for service members.
When one family member is stressed, the whole family may feel it. And this stress can boil over into their work life, including military service.
According to a new study from the University of Georgia, when service members struggle to cope with the personal and family demands of military life, they feel more guilt about their work and perceive their work does not enrich their family life.
“Service members give a lot to the career of being in the military,” said lead author Meredith Farnsworth, a 2022 doctoral graduate from UGA’s College of Family and Consumer Sciences. “It’s about understanding how we take care of service members and their families in the best way through policy and programming.”
The researchers analyzed data from more than 200 military families made up of a service member father, civilian mother and adolescent child between the ages of 11 and 18. All three family members were surveyed about stress levels and relationship dynamics. Service members indicated how guilty they felt about their work impacting family life as well as how their work enriched their family.
“Family members are interdependent, and their stress can be contagious from one another,” said Catherine O’Neal, co-author of the study and an assistant professor in UGA’s College of Family and Consumer Sciences. “But it’s also true that each individual sees things differently. Some family members experience more or less stress, and that has implications for managing work and family life.”
Work-related guilt was highest among fathers who say they and their family have challenges coping with the demands of military service. In contrast, when fathers reported they and their family coped well with military stress, they perceived their military service enriched their family’s life (for instance, seeing the benefits of military service for their children).
Catherine O’Neal
“Research tends to take a deficit approach. For instance, focusing on what leads to workers feeling guilty about how their work impacts their family. It’s important for research to also take a strength-based approach, in identifying factors connected to family life being enriched because of work,” O’Neal said.
The researchers also found that when adolescents reported a more positive relationship with their service member father, the father generally reported lower levels of family enrichment from their work. One potential explanation, Farnsworth said, is that adolescents with good parental relationships open up about stress and concerns. That open flow of communication can make parents more aware of difficulties, leading to lower perceptions of work-family enrichment.
“In close relationships with high levels of warmth and less hostility, parents may hear more about their adolescents’ struggles with things that are hard, including military life,” Farnsworth said. “So service member parents might be less likely to say, ‘Oh, look at all the good things happening at home because of my work.’”
While all jobs and industries come with their own stressors, O’Neal said it’s important to understand the unique role of military service.
“Military is not just the workplace,” O’Neal said. “It represents a lifestyle with its own culture, especially for active duty service members.”
The concept of work-life stress appears differently in military families, given the potential deployments and separations, as well as concerns for individual health and safety. Military service creates demands, such as relocation or the absence of a partner or parent, for all family members. But studies like this one can uncover new ways to support families through stressors.
“The more we can figure out specifically what’s going on and the ways military service creates guilt and family enrichment, the better positioned we are to create more effective and efficient policies to help families,” Farnsworth said.
This could involve workplace flexibility, centering families in support programs, and catching potential stressors early. But by taking these steps, it’s possible to improve overall job satisfaction and retention in the military, Farnsworth said.
Published by Military Psychology, the study was funded by a grant from the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture.
Written by: Erica Techo