Dyadic association between aggressive pretend play and children's anger expression.

Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell Country of Publication: England NLM ID: 8308022 Publication Model: Print-Electronic Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 2044-835X (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 0261510X NLM ISO Abbreviation: Br J Dev Psychol Subsets: MEDLINE

Publication: <2012-> : Chichester : Wiley-Blackwell
Original Publication: Leicester [Leicestershire] : British Psychological Society, c1983-

Aggression* ; Anger*; Child ; Child Development ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Peer Group ; Play and Playthings

This study investigates the association between children's peer-reported expression of anger and their pretend play with aggressive/negative themes observed during spontaneous play with classmates. Participants comprised 104 Chinese children (M age  = 8.98 years, SD = 0.97, 49% girls) and were filmed playing in peer dyads with toys. Aggressive and non-aggressive negative pretend themes were coded at five-second intervals for 10 minutes. Children's expression of anger in real situations was reported by peers. Analysis using actor-partner interdependence modelling (APIM) revealed significant partner effects, indicating that children were more likely to engage in pretend play with aggressive themes when they were playing with a partner who was perceived by their peers as more easily angered. It was also found that boys were more likely to engage in pretend play with both aggressive and non-aggressive negative themes compared with girls.
(© 2020 The Authors. British Journal of Developmental Psychology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of British Psychological Society.)

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ES/T005815/1 Economic and Social Research Council (UK); China Scholarship Council; LEGO Foundation

Keywords: aggressive themes; dyadic analysis; expression of anger; pretend play

Date Created: 20201005 Date Completed: 20211025 Latest Revision: 20211025

20250114

10.1111/bjdp.12352

33017077