Examining Developmental Trajectories and Predictors of Childhood Prosocial Behavior: Effects of Peer Play Interactions and Self-Control

Abstract

Objectives: This study aimed to classify latent groups based on the developmental trajectories of prosocial behavior in early childhood. In addition, it aimed to verify whether peer play interactions (play interaction, play disruption, and play disconnection) and self-control during preschool years have significant influences on the classification of latent groups.Methods: This study included 1,201 children(617 males, 51.4%; 584 females, 48.6%) drawn from the 7th, and 9th-11th waves of the Panel Study on Korean Children (PSKC). Latent class growth modeling was used to analyze the data.Results: The patterns of changes in prosocial behavior in early childhood were classified into three groups: high-increasing, moderate-stable, and low-decreasing. Among the predictors, play interaction, play disruption, and self-control significantly affected the classification of the latent groups. Specifically, children who exhibited high levels of play interaction and low levels of play disruption during the preschool years were more likely to belong to the high-increasing group, indicating a more positive prosocial behavior. However, those with low self-control were more likely to belong to the low-decreasing group, showing a relatively negative developmental trajectory of prosocial behavior.Conclusion: This study confirmed heterogeneities in the developmental trajectories of prosocial behavior in early childhood, differentially predicted by preschool-age peer interaction qualities and self-regulation. The findings highlight the importance of taking a comprehensive approach in early childhood education to enhance children's prosocial behavior development utilizing both interpersonal and intrapersonal factors during preschool years.