儿童对所属同伴团体的选择和适应

为探讨儿童所属非正式同伴团体的选择和适应过程,选择469名小3、初1学生参加了为期2年的追踪研究.儿童同伴团体和学校适应(社会行为、社会适应、学习适应)的资料取自包含同伴评定、教师评定和学校记录多种渠道.研究发现,(1)儿童选择与自己在学校适应方面相似的同伴组成同伴团体;(2)同伴团体不仅在成员构成还是在学校适应的团体特征上具有中等程度的稳定性;(3)儿童在初测时所属同伴团体的社会能力越强、社交性越高、学业成绩越优异,则其两年后在这些方面的表现也越好,如果所属同伴团体存在同伴拒绝或学业问题,则儿童在两年后被同伴拒绝和出现学业问题的可能性也越大.     

The relation of children's everyday nonsocial peer play behavior to their emotionality, regulation, and social functioning

The relations of children's nonsocial behavior to their emotionality, regulation, and social functioning were examined in a short-term longitudinal study. Parents (primarily mothers) and teachers rated children's effortful regulation, emotionality, asocial behaviors, problem behaviors, and social acceptance, and children's nonsocial play behaviors were observed for two semesters. Peers also rated likability. Children's observed reticent activities were related to adults' ratings of high regulation, low externalizing problems, and high asocial behavior, as well as to low anger and low positive emotion. On the other hand, solitary play was associated with low positive emotion and low regulation over time and with high asocial behavior and high peer exclusion. Peer rejection mediated the relation of internalizing emotions (anxiety, low positive emotion) and regulation to solitary play later in the school year, and asocial play mediated the relation of internalizing emotions to both solitary and reticent play behavior.     

Associations between the school-related beliefs of Mexican-American and Anglo-American mothers and children

Mexican-American and Anglo-American mothers' beliefs about their children's school related competence in the areas of academics and behavioral conduct, as well as their beliefs about their own academic competence, were assessed at the beginning of the children's kindergarten year. Mother-child dyads discussed the children's typical school experiences on four occasions during the school year, and children's beliefs were assessed at the end of the year. Pearson correlation coefficients indicated that strong associations between Anglo-American mothers' and children's beliefs existed, and partial correlation coefficients indicated that mother-child discourse contributed to many of these relations. Direct associations between mothers' and children's beliefs were not found for Mexican-American dyads, although mother-child discourse was linked to beliefs. The results suggest that dyads' conversations may serve as a means of transmitting beliefs about school-related competence, and that the this transmission may be more bidirectional in Mexican-American dyads.     

母亲元情绪理念与学前儿童社会适应的相互作用关系

采用追踪设计对438名学前儿童母亲进行问卷调查研究,主要探讨了母亲元情绪理念与学前儿童社会适应的相互作用关系。交叉滞后分析结果表明：（1）相邻两次测量的母亲各元情绪理念之间,社会适应各指标之间均具有中等程度的稳定性;（2）同一时间点的母亲各元情绪理念与儿童社会适应各指标之间均显著相关;（3）母亲元情绪理念与儿童社会适应之间部分存在着相互作用关系：控制了变量自身的连续性后,前测的母亲情绪教导显著正向预测后测的儿童敏感合作;前测的母亲情绪不干涉显著正向预测后测的儿童愤怒攻击、焦虑退缩行为;反过来,前测的儿童敏感合作能正向预测后测的母亲情绪教导,显著负向预测情绪不干涉、情绪摒除和情绪紊乱;前测的焦虑退缩能显著正向预测后测的母亲情绪摒除和情绪紊乱。     

The stability and consequences of young children's same-sex peer interactions

This article addresses whether young children's play-partner choices are stable over time and how these choices influence behavior. Sixty-one children (28 boys and 33 girls; mean age = 53 months) were observed over 6 months, and type of play behavior and sex of play partners were recorded. Children's partner preferences were highly sex differentiated and stable over time, especially when larger aggregates of data were used. Two types of consequences were identified: a binary effect that influenced differences between the sexes and a social dosage effect that influenced variations within the sexes. The binary effect reflected a pattern in which the more both girls and boys played with same-sex partners, the more their behavior became sex differentiated. The social dosage effect reflected a pattern in which variations in levels of same-sex play in the fall contributed significantly to variations in the spring above initial levels of the target behaviors.     

小学儿童分享的发展及反馈信息的促进效应

研究以独裁者博弈任务为载体,考查了小学儿童分享行为的发展趋势,并探讨了不同来源的正向反馈信息对于儿童分享行为的促进效应。研究随机选取了小学二、四、六年级的学生共386名,每个年级的三个实验组在自然分享条件后分别接受来自权威、同伴和自我的正向反馈信息,继而完成后续任务。结果表明:(1)在自然分享情况下,六年级儿童的分享数量显著多于二、四年级儿童的分享数量;随着年级升高,儿童从倾向于利己分享逐渐转为以平分为主;(2)来自同伴和权威的正向反馈可以提高二、四年级儿童的分享数量;自我评价的正向反馈明显提高四、六年级儿童的分享数量。结论:小学儿童的分享数量和进行平分的人数比例都随年级升高而增加,来自同伴、权威和自我的正向反馈分别适用于特定年龄阶段儿童的分享行为促进。     

Effect of Children's Perceived Rejection on Physical Aggression

This study investigated whether the perception of self as socially rejected might contribute to increased physical aggression among elementary-school children. It was hypothesized that physically aggressive children would become more physically aggressive over time if they perceived that they were rejected and tended to blame peers for social failure experiences. Third-grade boys and girls (n = 941) were assessed in the Fall and Spring of the school year. Peer-report data on physical aggression and social preference were collected, along with self-report data on perceived rejection and attributions for social failure experiences. Results for boys were consistent with hypotheses, whereas the results for girls revealed a different pattern of relations. These results constitute prospective evidence that children's self-perceptions of social rejection can uniquely influence externalizing behavior. Results are discussed in terms of mechanisms that might mediate the relation between perceived rejection and physical aggression.     

Mother, child, and situational correlates of toddlers' social competence

Mother, child, and situational correlates of toddlers' social competence in the second year were investigated in a sample of 24 children (11 girls, 13 boys). At 12 months, children's temperament (perceived difficulty) was assessed by questionnaire. Between 14 and 17 months, the children's everyday interaction experiences (maternal responsiveness and involvement) were observed at home. At 24 months, the children's social competence (responsiveness, use of social resources) and the quality of maternal behavior (responsiveness, availability) were assessed in a laboratory play room. The children's social competence was positively related to the contemporary (24 months) as well as the preceding (during the second year) maternal behavior. High-quality maternal behavior during the second year was associated with the child's low perceived difficulty at 12 months. Relationships between child and mother behavior particularly occurred in situations providing some challenge to the child.     

Effect of anxiety reduction on children's school performance and social adjustment

This study tested the effect of reductions in children's anxiety over time on improvements in school performance and social functioning in the context of participation in a cognitive-behavioral intervention program. Participants included 40 children with high anxiety (6-13 years of age). Independent evaluators, children, and parents rated child anxiety; parents rated school performance; and children and parents rated social functioning. Measures were completed at preintervention, midintervention, and postintervention. Fixed-effects regression analyses and random-effects regression analyses indicated that decreased anxiety was predictive of improved school performance and social functioning over the course of the intervention. These findings suggest that changes in anxiety influence trajectories of children's scholastic and social functioning.     

Two-to-three-year-old children's interactions with peers in child-care centres: Effects of spatial distance to caregivers

In child-care centres, the influence of caregivers on the development of peer interactions seems ambivalent and mixed results are reported in the literature. Adopting an environmental approach, we examined the effects of the caregivers’ spatial proximity on children's social behaviour. The study was carried out with 175 children (18-40 months) in 12 child-care-centre groups. Children's behaviours were observed during free plays, and both children and caregivers’ locations were recorded. When peers were nearby, children's social behaviours were compared when they were in the immediate proximity (within 2 m) and out of the immediate proximity of a caregiver. Results show that in the latter situation children spend substantially more time addressing social overture to peers and interacting with them; positive interactions with peers show a particularly marked difference. This pattern of results is exhibited by the greater part of the children. Whatever the child-care-centre group, the age subgroup or the gender considered similar results are found. Results also demonstrate that when children are in the immediate proximity of caregivers they are socially oriented towards the attractive adult partners rather than towards peers.     

Self-Concepts, Domain Values, and Self-Esteem: Relations and Changes at Early Adolescence

We assessed how children's self-concepts of ability for mathematics, English, social, and physical skills activities, ratings of the importance of these activities, and general self-esteem change across the transition to junior high school. Three types of change were assessed: change in mean levels, change in stability, and change in relationships. Twice each year during the sixth and seventh grades, 1,450 children completed questionnaires. Mean levels of children's self-esteem were lowest immediately after the transition, but recovered during seventh grade. Self-concept of ability and importance ratings for math and sports activities showed linear declines. Self-concept of ability for social activities showed a cubic trend, but importance ratings for social activities declined in a linear fashion. Children's self-concepts of ability for math and English became less stable across the junior high transition, whereas beliefs about other activities and general self-esteem were more stable in seventh grade.     

Treating boys with low school achievement and behavior problems: comparison of two kinds of intervention

Children with low school achievement frequently have behavior problems and interpersonal difficulties that pose a risk for psychosocial maladjustment. 39 boys were assessed and randomly assigned to one of two group treatment conditions: (a) interpersonal cognitive problem-solving for whom training was provided through oral and written language activities that met children's social and academic needs and (b) a language workshop, during which only academic difficulties were treated. Parents of children in both groups received group attention. Posttreatment assessments indicated that boys in both conditions showed significant improvements on school achievement and behavior problems, as they were measured by behavior scales reported by mothers and by an academic achievement test. Children in the problem-solving group improved significantly more than the other group on most measures. These results suggest that work with interpersonal cognitive problem-solving skills combined with reading and writing activities is a useful means to produce improvements in child behavior and school achievement.     

3~5岁儿童的交换行为研究

设计了一个贴近现实的玩具交换任务,考察3~5岁儿童在玩具交换情境中的行为特点及其利用社会知觉信息指导交换选择的能力,被试为91名3~5岁儿童,男女各半。结果发现,随着年龄增长,儿童在交换任务中得分有显著增长,通过率由43.3%（3岁组）上升到85.5%（5岁组）。儿童对成功的交换行为的解释逐渐偏向于参与交换的人物而非交换的物品。这表明儿童利用社会知觉信息进行行为决策的能力在3~5岁间有明显的发展。     

PBCB: A norming of the spanish translation of the Boehm test of Basic Concepts

The Boehm Test of Basic Concepts (BTBC) was designed to measure children's mastery of concepts considered necessary for achievement in the first years of school. The test is group administered, and is appropriate for use with children in the first three grades: kindergarten, first grade, and second grade. The test has been demonstrated to be a valid and reliable measure when administered in English. Prueba Boehm de Conceptos Basicos (PBCB), a Spanish translation of the test, was administered to 1,292 children three times in public and private schools in Puerto Rico during the 1979–1981 school years. Normative information, reported by type of school, by grade, and by time of year tested is presented. The reliability of PBCB was established. The test was shown to have predictive validity as well, correlating with measures of academic achievement one year following the end-of-year administration of the PBCB.     

Children's social competence, academic competence, and aggressiveness as related to ability to make judgments of fairness.

The relationship of 102 fifth and sixth graders' judgments of fairness with their academic and social competence and aggressiveness was studied. Children were given self-report and peer-nomination inventories measuring academic competence, social competence, and aggressiveness at a single point in time at the public school they attended. These measures were related to children's prediction of fairness on a distributive justice measure. Children who saw themselves as academically and socially competent scored higher on the distributive justice measure. Children whose peers saw them as less academically competent and more aggressive scored lower on the distributive justice measure. Analyses showed an association between children's academic competence, social competence, and aggressiveness scores and their scores on judgments of fairness.     

Assessing aggressive and depressed children's social relations with classmates and friends: a matter of perspective

This study examined aggressive, depressed, and aggressive–depressed childrenr's peer relations from the children's own and from their peers' perspective. Participants were 819 fourth through sixth graders (50.2% girls) who were assessed twice during the same school year. Measures included children's aggression and depression, self-rated and peer-rated social acceptance, number of reciprocal friends, and self-rated and friend-rated friendship quality. Analyses revealed different patterns, depending on the perspective considered. Depression but not aggression was significantly related to difficulties with the peer group and with dyadic friends from the children's own perspective, whereas the opposite pattern was found according to the peers' view. The co-occurrence of aggression and depression entailed significant difficulties with peers regardless of perspective. The implications of these results for the links between children's aggression and depression and their interpersonal relationships are discussed.     

Charting the Eccles' expectancy-value model from mothers' beliefs in childhood to youths' activities in adolescence

The Eccles' expectancy-value model posits that a cascade of mechanisms explain associations between parents' beliefs and youths' achievement-related behaviors. Specifically, parents' beliefs predict parents' behaviors; in turn, parents' behaviors predict youths' motivational beliefs, and youths' motivational beliefs predict their behaviors. This investigation focused on testing this model with mothers in sports, music, math, and reading over a 12-year period. Data were drawn from mother, youth, and teacher questionnaires collected as part of Childhood and Beyond Study (92% European American; N = 723). Mothers' beliefs in sports, music, and math positively predicted their behaviors in these areas 1 year later, which predicted youths' self-concepts of ability and values (i.e., their motivational beliefs) in these domains 1 year later. Adolescents' motivational beliefs predicted time spent in organized sport activities, playing music, and reading after school measured 4 years later as well as the number of math courses taken in high school. Furthermore, except in reading, mothers' behaviors mediated the relations between mothers' and youths' beliefs, and youths' beliefs mediated the relations between mothers' behaviors and youths' behaviors. Although there were mean-level differences in several indicators based on child gender, in most cases the relations among these indicators did not significantly vary by child gender. This study highlights the processes by which mothers' beliefs during their children's childhood can predict children's activities in adolescence.     

Preschool children's mathematical knowledge: The effect of teacher "math talk."

This study examined the relation between the amount of mathematical input in the speech of preschool or day-care teachers and the growth of children's conventional mathematical knowledge over the school year. Three main findings emerged. First, there were marked individual differences in children's conventional mathematical knowledge by 4 years of age that were associated with socioeconomic status. Second, there were dramatic differences in the amount of math-related talk teachers provided. Third, and most important, the amount of teachers' math-related talk was significantly related to the growth of preschoolers' conventional mathematical knowledge over the school year but was unrelated to their math knowledge at the start of the school year.     

Teacher practices as predictors of children's classroom social preference

Students who do not get along with their peers are at elevated risk for academic disengagement and school failure. Research has predominantly focused on factors within such children that contribute to their peer problems. This study considers whether teacher practices also predict social preference for children in that classroom. Participants were 26 elementary school teachers and 490 students in their classrooms followed for one school year. Results suggested that teachers who favored the most academically talented students in the fall had classrooms where children had lower average social preference in the spring after statistical control of children's fall social preference and externalizing behavior problems. Teachers who demonstrated emotionally supportive relationships with students in the fall had classrooms where children had greater possibility of changing their social preference from fall to spring. Although children with high externalizing behaviors tended to experience declining social preference over the course of the school year, teachers' learner-centered practices attenuated this progression. However, teachers' favoring of the most academically talented accentuated the negative relation between externalizing behaviors and social preference. Implications for school psychology practitioners are discussed.     

父母教养方式影响学前儿童社会适应的追踪研究:自我控制的中介作用

采用追踪设计对439名儿童的父母进行问卷调查,旨在考察父母教养方式对学前儿童社会适应的影响及可能的中介机制。在第一年时,父母分别报告了自己的教养方式和儿童的社会适应;在第二年时,父母分别报告了儿童的自我控制和社会适应。研究结果表明：（1）父母权威型教养方式得分越高,孩子的社会适应越好,而父母专制型和放任型教养方式得分越高,孩子的社会适应越差;（2）自我控制能力高的孩子的亲社会行为更多,问题行为更少;（3）自我控制在母亲专制型教养方式与儿童违纪攻击和敏感合作间起完全中介作用,自我控制在父亲放任型教养方式与儿童违纪攻击和害羞焦虑间起完全中介作用。