ERIC Number: EJ1424439
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2024-May
Pages: 12
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0165-0254
EISSN: EISSN-1464-0651
Longitudinal Associations between Preschool Children's Theory of Mind, Emotion Understanding, and Positive Peer Relationships
Linda Johansen; Gabriella Óturai; Ann-Kathrin Jaggy; Sonja Perren
International Journal of Behavioral Development, v48 n3 p200-211 2024
The positive links between children's theory of mind (ToM), emotion understanding, and positive peer relationships are well established. However, the existing literature lacks comprehensive studies investigating the longitudinal interplay between these components in preschool-aged children. This study aimed to fill this gap by examining the concurrent and longitudinal associations between young children's social cognition and their positive peer relationships at three different time points over the course of 7 months. A sample of 211 preschool children (age in months: M[subscript T1] = 43.2, SD[subscript T1] = 6.6) underwent standardized assessments evaluating their ToM and emotion understanding, while playgroup educators reported on children's positive peer relationships. Using multivariate latent growth modeling, we expected to find that higher levels of ToM and emotion understanding would be associated with a greater rate of change in positive peer relationships and that higher levels of positive peer relationships would be associated with a higher rate of change in ToM and emotion understanding. Contrary to our expectations, the results did not support the anticipated longitudinal associations. Nevertheless, a noteworthy correlation emerged between children's emotion understanding and positive peer relationships at T1, in line with previous research and social-constructivist theories.
Descriptors: Theory of Mind, Preschool Children, Peer Relationship, Interpersonal Competence, Social Cognition, Preschool Teachers, Correlation, Longitudinal Studies, Teacher Attitudes, Child Development, Constructivism (Learning), Foreign Countries, Measures (Individuals)
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Early Childhood Education; Preschool Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Switzerland
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A