Research

The Children’s Understanding of Parents’ Feelings Focus Group was part of a research study that aimed to better understand children’s thoughts, ideas, and beliefs about their mothers’ emotions, such as anxiety and worry. The study was conducted with 9-17 year old participants in an online setting. Mothers and their child were asked to discuss their experiences with anxiety within the family. Children also provided feedback on a new questionnaire designed to measure the ways in which children think about their mothers’ anxiety.

The purpose of this focus group was for mothers to discuss their experiences with emotions and parenting behaviors during stressful interactions with their children. The goal was to hear from real-life experts who are in the trenches of motherhood! Mothers with children ranging from 7-9 were recruited for this fully online study. In addition to discussing stressful interactions with their children, mothers were asked to provide feedback on the goals of an upcoming study designed to learn more about mothers’ emotions, thoughts, and behaviors during these stressful interactions.

The Everyday Experiences of Mothers Study aimed to better understand mothers’ emotions, thoughts, and behaviors during everyday interactions with their children. This study asked mothers about their experiences several times a day using brief surveys delivered through an app on their cell phone. This cutting-edge survey technique helped us to understand the real-life experiences and challenges that mothers may face on a daily basis.

The Brain, Emotions, and Thoughts Study aimed to better understand the ways in which mothers and children experience thoughts and emotions in various situations. Mothers with children ranging from 7-9 were recruited for this study. The study examined how mothers and children interacted while completing activities in the lab and how their brains responded to emotional information.