Do children's perceptions and attributions mediate the effects of mothers'child-rearing actions?

The authors analyzed whether the relation between maternal child-rearing be haviors and a child's self-regulation was mediated by the accuracy in the c hild's perceptions of the mothers goals and methods and by the direction of attributions far the mother's intentions. Sixty mothers with children 7-10 years old were asked how and why they would react in 15 hypothetical situa tions. Children were interviewed to assess the accuracy of their perception s and the direction of their attributions. To assess the children's self-re gulation, mothers and children were observed planning an excursion. LISREL analysis showed that the reported use of bath control and demandingness and of responsiveness has a positive influence on the accuracy of children's p erceptions and, in turn, on their self-regulation. However, part of the pos itive impact of control and demandingness on children's self-regulation was due to the effect of positive attributions on the accuracy of perceptions.