Correlates of social and academic competence in middle childhood.
The correlates of social and academic competence were investigated in 9-14 yr old children. Factor analysis of multiple measures of cognitive functioning, excluding IQ identified three dimensions: (1) Social Comprehension; (2) Cognitive Efficiency and (3) Divergent Thinking. The social comprehension dimension was derived from measures of humor and social cognition. Although strongly related to IQ, Social Comprehension still had a substantial unique relation to social competence in a school setting, as assessed by teachers and peers. While this dimension was the best predictor of social competence, IQ was by far the most powerful predictor of academic competence.
Pellegrini
D S
DS
Center for the Study of Youth Development, Catholic University of America, Washington DC 20064.
Masten
A S
AS
Garmezy
N
N
Ferrarese
M J
MJ
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002657:Child Development; D003071:Cognition; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007360:Intelligence; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D011340:Problem Solving; D011581:Psychological Tests; D012917:Social Adjustment; D013850:Thinking; D014925:Wit and Humor as Topic