title: The role of sex of peers and gender-typed activities in young children's peer affiliative networks: a longitudinal analysis of selection and influence.
abstract: A stochastic actor-based model was used to investigate the origins of sex segregation by examining how similarity in sex of peers and time spent in gender-typed activities affected affiliation network selection and how peers influenced children's (N = 292; Mage = 4.3 years) activity involvement. Gender had powerful effects on interactions through direct and indirect pathways. Children selected playmates of the same sex and with similar levels of gender-typed activities. Selection based on gender-typed activities partially mediated selection based on sex of peers. Children influenced one another's engagement in gender-typed activities. When mechanisms producing sex segregation were compared, the largest contributor was selection based on sex of peers; less was due to activity-based selection and peer influence. Implications for sex segregation and gender development are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Arizona State University, Tempe, AR, USA. cmartin@asu.edu
authors.forename: Carol Lynn
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Martin
authors.forename: Olga
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Kornienko
authors.forename: David R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Schaefer
authors.forename: Laura D
authors.initials: LD
authors.lastname: Hanish
authors.forename: Richard A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Fabes
authors.forename: Priscilla
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Goble
mesh_terms: D002675:Child, Preschool; D002755:Choice Behavior; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D010379:Peer Group; D010988:Play and Playthings; D012737:Sex Factors; D012919:Social Behavior; D012931:Social Environment; D060756:Social Networking; D012951:Socialization