TY - JOUR
T1 - Development of social skills in kindergarten
T2 - A latent class growth modeling approach
AU - Zhu, Yan Tong
AU - Li, Xiang
AU - Jiao, Dan Dan
AU - Tanaka, Emiko
AU - Tomisaki, Etsuko
AU - Watanabe, Taeko
AU - Sawada, Yuko
AU - Zhu, Zhu
AU - Ajmal, Ammara
AU - Matsumoto, Munenori
AU - Anme, Tokie
N1 - Funding Information:
Funding: This research was funded by Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research, grant number 21H00790 and 21K18449.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2021 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.
PY - 2021/10
Y1 - 2021/10
N2 - Social skills acquired during early childhood are often the foundation for success later in life. Using a nationwide survey dataset in Japan, this study aims to explore the multiple growth trajectories of social skills among children in kindergarten by using a latent class growth modeling approach. It also examines whether, and to what extent, the home-rearing environment at early age predict trajectories of social skills development. Children in this study were assessed on social skills at three waves, four home-rearing environment dimensions (human stimulation, social stimulation, avoidance of punishment, and social support for parenting) and demographic background were measured at wave 1. The results indicated that three distinct growth trajectories of social skills existed during kindergarten: high increase levels, moderate increase levels, and decreased levels. The avoidance of punishment and children’s gender significantly predicted the growth trajectories of social skills. Thus, the results suggest that more attention should be paid to the home-rearing environment and boys.
AB - Social skills acquired during early childhood are often the foundation for success later in life. Using a nationwide survey dataset in Japan, this study aims to explore the multiple growth trajectories of social skills among children in kindergarten by using a latent class growth modeling approach. It also examines whether, and to what extent, the home-rearing environment at early age predict trajectories of social skills development. Children in this study were assessed on social skills at three waves, four home-rearing environment dimensions (human stimulation, social stimulation, avoidance of punishment, and social support for parenting) and demographic background were measured at wave 1. The results indicated that three distinct growth trajectories of social skills existed during kindergarten: high increase levels, moderate increase levels, and decreased levels. The avoidance of punishment and children’s gender significantly predicted the growth trajectories of social skills. Thus, the results suggest that more attention should be paid to the home-rearing environment and boys.
KW - Home rearing environment
KW - Kindergarten children
KW - Latent class growth analysis
KW - Social skills
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U2 - 10.3390/children8100870
DO - 10.3390/children8100870
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85117611828
SN - 2227-9067
VL - 8
JO - Children
JF - Children
IS - 10
M1 - 870
ER -