Introduction
Conceptualising Peer Play Ability
Peer Play, Socio-cognitive Competencies, and Mental Health
Peer Play, Self-regulation, and Mental Health
The Present Study
Methods
Participants
Key Measures
Demographic Variables
Peer Play Ability at Age 3
Temperamental Traits at Age 3
Variables (score range) | All children in the sample N = 1676 Mean (SD)/prevalence (%) | Children not in high-reactivity group N = 1433 Mean (SD)/prevalence (%) | Children in high-reactivity group N = 243 Mean (SD)/prevalence (%) | Chi-square (df)/effect size [95% confidence interval] | Children not in low-persistence group N = 1,406 Mean (SD)/prevalence (%) | Children in low-persistence group N = 270 Mean (SD)/prevalence (%) | Chi-square (df)/effect size [95% confidence interval] |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Birth variables | |||||||
Gender (male:female) | 51.8%:48.2% | 51.1%:48.9% | 56%:44% | 1.8 (1) | 51.7%: 48.3% | 52.2%: 47.8% | 0.008 (1) |
Exposure to languages not English at home (Other languages: English only) | 7.5%: 92.5% | 7.7%: 92.3% | 5.8%: 94.2% | 0.27 (1) | 7.5%: 92.5% | 7%: 93% | 0.03 (1) |
Indigenous status (Indigenous status: not indigenous status) | 3.2%: 96.8% | 3.4%: 96.6% | 2.5%: 97.5% | 0.92 (1) | 3.5%: 96.5% | 1.9%: 98.1% | 1.45 (1) |
Socioeconomic index (− 4.26–3.08) | 0.23 (0.98) | 0.24 (0.98) | 0.16 (0.98) | 0.03 [− 0.02, 0.08] | 0.2 (0.98) | 0.33 (0.98) | − 0.05 [− 0.1, − 0.003]* |
Age 3 variables | |||||||
Simple peer play (1–3) | 2.75 (0.54) | 2.76 (0.52) | 2.68 (0.62) | 0.04 [− 0.01, 0.1] | 2.76 (0.53) | 2.69 (0.6) | 0.04 [− 0.013, 0.087] |
Pretend peer play (1–3) | 2.72 (0.53) | 2.78 (0.53) | 2.68 (0.64) | 0.06 [0.01, 0.12]* | 2.77 (0.54) | 2.73 (0.57) | 0.03 [− 0.03, 0.08] |
Goal-directed peer play (1–3) | 2.76 (0.55) | 2.74 (0.51) | 2.61 (0.62) | 0.08 [0.03, 0.13]** | 2.74 (0.52) | 2.65 (0.59) | 0.06 [0.007, 0.11]* |
Game with rules peer play (1–3) | 2.51 (0.69) | 2.52 (0.68) | 2.44 (0.74) | 0.03 [− 0.02, 0.08] | 2.53 (0.68) | 2.39 (0.76) | 0.06 [0.01, 0.12]* |
Reactivity (4–24) | 12.2 (3.76) | 10.86 (2.74) | 17.84 (1.93) | − 0.6 [− 0.62, − 0.57]*** | 12.03 (3.73) | 12.64 (3.86) | − 0.06 [− 0.1, − 0.008]* |
Persistence (6–30) | 21.3 (3.7) | 21.42 (3.63) | 20.88 (3.99) | − 0.04 [− 0.01, 0.08] | 22.71 (2.59) | 15.96 (2.13) | 0.52 [0.59, 0.65]*** |
Number of siblings (0–8) | 1.07 (0.88) | 1.08 (0.87) | 1.03 (0.88) | 0.02 [− 0.03, 0.06] | 1.08 (0.87) | 1.04 (0.88) | 0.02 [− 0.03, 0.07] |
Family play experiences (0–3) | 1.97 (0.62) | 1.97 (0.63) | 1.98 (0.57) | − 0.003 [− 0.004, 0.04] | 1.99 (0.62) | 1.88 (0.62) | 0.07 [0.01, 0.11]** |
Peer relationships difficulties (5–20)_ | 7.34 (2.55) | 7.15 (2.42) | 8.21 (2.97) | − 0.13 [− 0.17, − 0.07]*** | 7.2 (2.46) | 7.93 (2.83) | − 0.09 [− 0.14, − 0.04]*** |
Language ability (1–110) | 62.2 (25.7) | 62.85 (25.3) | 59.04 (27.35) | 0.04 [− 0.01, 0.09] | 64.02 (25.35) | 54.56 (25.8) | 0.13 [0.09, 0.18]*** |
Maternal psychological distress (6–29) | 8.94 (3.13) | 8.77 (2.98) | 9.9 (3.72) | − 0.12 [− 0.17, − 0.07]*** | 8.86 (3.07) | 9.36 (3.4) | − 0.06 [− 0.11, − 0.02]** |
Age 7 variables | |||||||
Hyperactivity (0–10) | 3.58 (2.43) | 3.43 (2.36) | 4.44 (2.66) | − 0.14 [− 0.19, − 0.09]*** | 3.41 (2.35) | 4.42 (2.65) | − 0.14 [− 0.19, − 0.09]*** |
Conduct problems (0–9) | 1.56 (1.45) | 1.44 (1.39) | 2.25 (1.58) | − 0.19 [− 0.23, − 0.14]*** | 1.46 (1.38) | 2.04 (1.64) | − 0.14 [− 0.18, − 0.08]*** |
Emotional problems (0–9) | 1.69 (1.74) | 1.61 (1.7) | 2.18 (1.87) | − 0.11 [− 0.17, − 0.07]*** | 1.66 (1.71) | 1.86 (1.84) | − 0.04 [− 0.08, 0.02] |
Peer problems (0–9) | 1.29 (1.52) | 1.24 (1.49) | 1.54 (1.64) | − 0.07 [− 0.11, 0.02]** | 1.23 (1.45) | 1.57 (1.77) | − 0.06 [-0.11, − 0.007]* |
Child’s age in months (73–99) | 82.1 (3.59) | 82.11 (3.61) | 81.91 (3.46) | 0.02 [− 0.02, 0.07] | 82.1 (3.58) | 81.99 (3.6) | 0.009 [− 0.04, 0.06] |
Family Play Experiences at Age 3
Peer Relationship Difficulties at Age 3
Maternal Psychological Distress at Age 3
Language Ability at Age 3
Mental Health Outcomes at Age 7
Statistical Analyses
Results
Preliminary Analyses
Comparison of the High-Reactivity and Low-Persistence Subgroups to the Remaining Sample
Correlations between Peer Play Indicators and SDQ Subscales
Findings from Main Analyses: Part 1 Whole Sample Analyses
Does Peer Play Ability at Age 3 Years Predict Mental Health Outcomes at Age 7 Years? (RQ1)
Hyperactivity | Conduct problems | Emotional problems | Peer problems | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Sociodemographic backgrounds | ||||
Female | − 0.17 (0.026)*** | − 0.054 (0.024)* | 0.096 (0.025)*** | − 0.015 (0.025) |
Socioeconomic index at birth | − 0.14 (0.025)*** | − 0.13 (0.025)*** | − 0.049 (0.025) | − 0.082 (0.026)*** |
Home language is English | 0.074 (0.029)* | 0.021 (0.026) | − 0.045 (0.027) | − 0.085 (0.031)** |
Indigenous status | 0.048 (0.033) | 0.07 (0.039) | 0.016 (0.027) | 0.057 (0.035) |
Age in months | 0.034 (0.045) | − 0.027 (0.069) | − 0.011 (0.059) | 0.019 (0.067) |
Age 3 covariates | ||||
Peer play ability | − 0.084 (0.028)** | − 0.08 (0.028)** | − 0.098 (0.029)*** | − 0.14 (0.031)*** |
Reactivity | 0.167 (0.041)*** | 0.25 (0.065)*** | 0.12 (0.056)* | 0.037 (0.066) |
Persistence | − 0.2 (0.041)*** | − 0.18 (0.066)** | 0.002 (0.057) | − 0.045 (0.065) |
Number of siblings | − 0.093 (0.025)*** | − 0.027 (0.025) | − 0.082 (0.025)*** | − 0.07 (0.026)** |
Family play experiences | 0.023 (0.025) | − 0.069 (0.025)** | − 0.035 (0.026) | − 0.054 (0.026)* |
Peer relationships difficulties | 0.011 (0.031) | 0.042 (0.047) | 0.14 (0.039)*** | 0.12 (0.045)** |
Language ability | − 0.049 (− 0.28) | 0.039 (0.473) | 0.003 (0.392) | − 0.029 (0.449) |
Maternal psychological distress (K6) | 0.051 (0.034) | 0.052 (0.057) | 0.145 (0.046)** | 0.13 (0.054)* |
Hyperactivity
Conduct Problems
Emotional Problems
Peer Problems
Findings from Main Analyses: Part 2 High-Risk Subgroup Analyses
Does Peer Play Ability at Age 3 Years Predict Mental Health Outcomes at Age 7 Years in Children in the Low-Persistence Subgroup? (RQ2a)
Hyperactivity | Conduct problems | Emotional problems | Peer problems | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Sociodemographic backgrounds | ||||
Female | − 0.14 (0.06)* | 0.006 (0.057) | 0.079 (0.06) | − 0.049 (0.06) |
Socioeconomic index at birth | − 0.11 (0.06) | − 0.18 (0.059)** | 0.006 (0.06) | − 0.068 (0.061) |
Home language is English | 0.118 (0.08) | − 0.004 (0.059) | − 0..047 (0.064) | − 0.001 (0.061) |
Indigenous status | − 0.013 (0.067) | 0.043 (0.094) | − 0.087 (0.16) | 0.029 (0.08) |
Age in months | 0.085 (0.101) | − 0.036 (0.15) | − 0.029 (0.13) | 0.039 (0.14) |
Age 3 covariates | ||||
Peer play ability | − 0.17 (0.069)* | − 0.12 (0.067) | − 0.25 (0.071)*** | − 0.18 (0.071)* |
Reactivity | 0.13 (0.089) | 0.29 (0.13)* | 0.061 (0.13) | − 0.026 (0.13) |
Persistence | − 0.082 (0.063) | − 0.14 (0.084) | 0 (0.075) | 0.014 (0.079) |
Number of siblings | − 0.16 (0.059)** | − 0.022 (0.058) | − 0.049 (0.06) | 0.011 (0.061) |
Family play experiences | − 0.076 (0.061) | − 0.14 (0.06)* | − 0.054 (0.061) | − 0.003 (0.061) |
Peer relationships difficulties | 0.11 (0.069) | 0.045 (0.11) | 0.102 (0.094) | 0.14 (0.097) |
Language ability | − 0.015 (0.6) | 0.16 (0.96) | − 0.01 (0.86) | − 0.043 (0.89) |
Maternal psychological distress (K6) | 0.073 (0.008) | 0.091 (0.13) | 0.25 (0.11)* | 0.26 (0.11)* |
Hyperactivity
Emotional Problems
Peer Problems
Conduct Problems
Does Peer Play Ability at Age 3 Years Predict Mental Health Outcomes at Age 7 Years in Children in the High-Reactivity Subgroup? (RQ2b)
Hyperactivity | Conduct problems | Emotional problems | Peer problems | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Sociodemographic backgrounds | ||||
Female | − 0.22 (0.07)*** | − 0.054 (0.064) | − 0.055 (0.064) | − 0.15 (0.07)* |
Socioeconomic index at birth | − 0.12 (0.06) | − 0.11 (0.064) | − 0.14 (0.064)* | − 0.15 (0.068)* |
Home language is English | 0.111 (0.099) | 0.071 (0.083) | − 0.027 (0.072) | − 0.21 (0.15) |
Indigenous status | − 0.023 (0.074) | 0.015 (0.07) | − 0.071 (0.13) | 0.02 (0.072) |
Age in months | 0.126 (0.111) | − 0.059 (0.17) | 0.033 (0.15) | 0.03 (0.16) |
Age 3 covariates | ||||
Peer play ability | − 0.15 (0.074)* | − 0.037 (0.071) | − 0.05 (0.073) | − 0.019 (0.07) |
Reactivity | 0.069 (0.065) | 0.16 (0.091) | 0.073 (0.077) | 0.07 (0.087) |
Persistence | − 0.186 (0.11) | − 0.23 (0.17) | 0.07 (0.15) | − 0.074 (0.17) |
Number of siblings | − 0.046 (0.062) | 0.098 (0.063) | − 0.124 (0.064) | − 0.006 (0.061) |
Family play experiences | 0.01 (0.062) | − 0.055 (0.063) | 0.002 (0.064) | − 0.073 (0.063) |
Peer relationships difficulties | 0.021 (0.084) | 0.007 (0.136) | 0.22 (0.11)* | 0.2 (0.13) |
Language ability | − 0.007 (0.75) | 0.023 (1.25) | 0.036 (1.06) | − 0.043 (1.189) |
Maternal psychological distress (K6) | 0.12 (0.1) | 0.13 (0.17) | 0.14 (0.14) | 0.043 (0.162) |