title: Gender-differentiated effects of theory of mind, emotion understanding, and social preference on prosocial behavior development: A longitudinal study.
abstract: Although key differences have been found in boys' and girls' prosocial behavior toward peers, few studies have systematically examined gender differences in how intrinsic perspective-taking abilities-theory of mind (ToM) and emotion understanding (EU)-and the extrinsic peer environment relate to prosocial behavior. In this prospective longitudinal study, we studied gender differences in the relations between children's observed prosocial behavior and their ToM, EU, and social preference ratings in 114 children (58 boys and 56 girls). We used conventional ToM and EU tasks at 5 and 7years of age. Observed prosocial behavior in triadic peer interactions was assessed at both time points. Controlling for gender, age, verbal ability, and earlier prosocial behavior, ToM at 5years was found to predict prosocial behavior at 7years. Results also revealed gender-differentiated associations at 7years, whereby only girls' prosocial behavior was positively associated with EU. Results are discussed in terms of gender-differentiated patterns of socialization.
authors: University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales 2006, Australia. Electronic address: rebecca-lee.kuhnert@sydney.edu.au.
authors: Rebecca-Lee
authors: RL
authors: Kuhnert
authors: Vrije Universiteit (VU) Amsterdam, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors: Sander
authors: S
authors: Begeer
authors: University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 8PQ, UK.
authors: Elian
authors: E
authors: Fink
authors: University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales 2006, Australia; University of Wollongong, Wollongong, New South Wales 2522, Australia.
authors: Marc
authors: M
authors: de Rosnay
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002652:Child Behavior; D002657:Child Development; D032882:Comprehension; D004644:Emotions; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D010379:Peer Group; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012737:Sex Factors; D012919:Social Behavior; D056345:Theory of Mind
keywords: Emotion understanding; Gender differences; Longitudinal study; Prosocial behavior; Social preference; Theory of mind