Trajectories of Peer Play Disconnection and Predictive Factors in Early Childhood

Abstract

Objectives: This study examined the longitudinal development trajectories of peer play disconnection in early childhood and investigated individual and environmental influencing factors.Methods: Data from 1,018 young children of the Panel Study on Korean Children (PSKC) from the 5th to 7th waves were used. Latent Growth Curve Modeling was applied using SPSS 21.0 and AMOS 20.0 to analyze the trajectories of play disconnection and predictive factors.Results: Peer play disconnection increased linearly during early childhood, with significant individual differences in the intercept and slope. Gender, sociality, language development, teacher interaction, and institute preference were factors that reduced the initial value of play disconnection in peer play. Higher reported negative emotionality and marital conflicts were associated with higher initial values of play disconnection. The rate of change in play disconnection was influenced by negative emotionality, activity, language development, teacher interaction, institute preference, and the media use of games and smartphones.Conclusion: Play disconnection in peer play tends to increase continuously, with temperament and language development, media use, and institutional factors influencing this increase. Negative emotionality and activity are associated with a significant increase in play disconnection, while language development and institutional factors may be noted as protective factors affecting the continuous increase in play disconnection. In addition, the increase in the use of screen games and smartphones has been shown to contribute to a rapid increase in play disconnection during early childhood. A theoretical and practical discussion is provided on preventing increased play disconnection in peer play.