Mothers accommodating to resolve conflict with their children

Maternal sensitivity is known to have important implications on children’s development. This study examined the sensitivity with which mothers used to elicit compliance from their children. In particular, this study explored the goal-regulation strategy of accommodation. One hundred twenty-nine mother-toddler dyads from a non-clinical sample were observed during a 5-minute ‘clean-up’ activity. Results showed that mothers’ utilized numerous accommodation strategies. Moreover, the use of individual accommodation strategies was associated with maternal depression, mothers’ level of child-orientation, and children’s age.