Young children's emotional responses to new peers: The roles of behavioural inhibition and relationships

This study examined the extent to which young children's affect expressions during interactions with new peers are attributable to individual traits versus unique relationships, and how behavioral inhibition (BI) relates to these expressions. Using a longitudinal dyadic design collected between 2003 and 2008, 291 children (Mage = 24 months at baseline, 60% female, 69.7% White) were observed playing with unique age-and gender-matched peers annually from 24 to 60 months of age. Variability in children's affect expressions was primarily accounted for by the unique relationship instead of individual differences. Children higher in BI displayed less positive affect (B = -0.30) and elicited less negative affect (B = -0.15) from peers. Findings underscore how both individual characteristics and relational processes shape early peer interactions.