title: Social engagement and adaptive functioning during early childhood: Identifying and distinguishing among subgroups differing with regard to social engagement.
abstract: This study tested the hypothesis that social engagement (SE) with peers is a fundamental aspect of social competence during early childhood. Relations between SE and a set of previously validated social competence indicators, as well as additional variables derived from observation and sociometric interviews were assessed using both variable-centered and person-centered approaches (N = 1453, 696 girls) in 4 samples (3 U.S.A., 1 Portuguese). Directly observed SE was positively associated with broad-band measures of socially competent behavior, peer acceptance, being a target of peers' attention, and also with broad-band personality dimensions. Using individual Q-items significantly associated with SE in 3 of our 4 samples, a hierarchical cluster analysis yielded a 5-cluster solution that grouped cases efficiently. Tests on relations between cluster membership and the set of social competence and other variables revealed significant main effects of cluster membership in the full sample and within each individual sample, separately. With the exception of tests for peer negative preference, children in the lowest SE cluster also had significantly lower overall social competence, personality functioning scores than did children in higher SE clusters. (PsycINFO Database Record
authors: Human Development and Family Studies, Auburn University.
authors: Brian E
authors: BE
authors: Vaughn
authors: William James Center for Research, ISPA-Instituto Universitário.
authors: António J
authors: AJ
authors: Santos
authors: ISCTE-UIL, CIS-UIL, Instituto Universitário de Lisboa.
authors: Ligia
authors: L
authors: Monteiro
authors: Department of Child Development, Ewha Womans University.
authors: Nana
authors: N
authors: Shin
authors: William James Center for Research, ISPA-Instituto Universitário.
authors: João R
authors: JR
authors: Daniel
authors: Human Development and Family Studies, Auburn University.
authors: Lisa
authors: L
authors: Krzysik
authors: William James Center for Research, ISPA-Instituto Universitário.
authors: Alexandra
authors: A
authors: Pinto
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001288:Attention; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010379:Peer Group; D010551:Personality; D011581:Psychological Tests; D012919:Social Behavior; D014796:Visual Perception