title: Prevalence of imaginary companions in a normal child population.
abstract: Approximately 1800 children between the ages of 5 and 12 years were randomly selected and asked whether they had present or past experiences of imaginary companions. It was found that 829 (46.2%) children reported experiences of imaginary companions. These findings were unexpected as previous studies had suggested that imaginary companions are generally experienced by fewer, much younger children. There were no significant differences in creativity scores between children who reported imaginary companions compared with those who did not. Imaginary companions were reported by more girls than boys, and were not restricted to very young children.
authors.affiliation: Island Clinical Psychology Service, Isle of Wight Healthcare NHS Trust and; University of Leicester, Leicester, UK.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Pearson
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Rouse
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Doswell
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ainsworth
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Dawson
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Simms
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Edwards
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Faulconbridge
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002657:Child Development; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003405:Creativity; D005201:Fantasy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007092:Imagination; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male