title: The relation of children's everyday nonsocial peer play behavior to their emotionality, regulation, and social functioning.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Family & Human Development, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287-2502, USA. tspinrad@asu.edu
authors.forename: Tracy L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Spinrad
authors.forename: Nancy
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Eisenberg
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Harris
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Hanish
authors.forename: Richard A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Fabes
authors.forename: Kristina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kupanoff
authors.forename: Staci
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ringwald
authors.forename: Julie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Holmes
mesh_terms: D000987:Antisocial Personality Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D001007:Anxiety / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004644:Emotions; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007206:Individuality; D007389:Internal-External Control; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D010379:Peer Group; D010552:Personality Assessment; D010553:Personality Development; D010988:Play and Playthings; D012578:Schools, Nursery; D012917:Social Adjustment; D012919:Social Behavior; D012934:Social Isolation; D012951:Socialization; D012963:Sociometric Techniques