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The longitudinal relationship between Chinese children's imaginary companions and their peer relationships.

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Title: The longitudinal relationship between Chinese children's imaginary companions and their peer relationships.
Authors: Lin, Qiyi (AUTHOR), Leng, Xincong (AUTHOR), Zhou, Nan (AUTHOR), Chen, Shimin (AUTHOR), Jiang, Xinyue (AUTHOR)
Source: Social Behavior & Personality: an international journal. Mar2026, Vol. 54 Issue 3, p1-11. 11p.
Subjects: Peer relations, Preschool children, Equality, Child psychology, Social development, Longitudinal method, Chinese people
Abstract: Using a cross-lagged design, we explored the potential causal relationships between preschool children's imaginary companion (IC) status (has an IC or does not) and peer relationships, and between child–IC relationship qualities (i.e., egalitarian or hierarchical relationships) and peer relationships. We collected data from 104 preschool children and their mothers at two timepoints, with the interval being approximately 1 year. At each timepoint, children were interviewed about their IC status and were taken through a sociometric nomination exercise. Mothers took part in the IC interview. The findings revealed that fewer rejections by children's peers may result in a higher likelihood of children creating ICs. Further, egalitarian child–IC relationships could reduce peer rejections to a certain degree compared with hierarchical child–IC relationships. Implications of the findings are discussed for theory and practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of Social Behavior & Personality: an international journal is the property of Scientific Journal Publishers Limited and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
Database: Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection
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PubType: Academic Journal
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  Label: Title
  Group: Ti
  Data: The longitudinal relationship between Chinese children's imaginary companions and their peer relationships.
– Name: Author
  Label: Authors
  Group: Au
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Lin%2C+Qiyi%22">Lin, Qiyi</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Leng%2C+Xincong%22">Leng, Xincong</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Zhou%2C+Nan%22">Zhou, Nan</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Chen%2C+Shimin%22">Chen, Shimin</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Jiang%2C+Xinyue%22">Jiang, Xinyue</searchLink> (AUTHOR)
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Social+Behavior+%26+Personality%3A+an+international+journal%22">Social Behavior & Personality: an international journal</searchLink>. Mar2026, Vol. 54 Issue 3, p1-11. 11p.
– Name: Subject
  Label: Subjects
  Group: Su
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Peer+relations%22">Peer relations</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Preschool+children%22">Preschool children</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Equality%22">Equality</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Child+psychology%22">Child psychology</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Social+development%22">Social development</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Longitudinal+method%22">Longitudinal method</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Chinese+people%22">Chinese people</searchLink>
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: Using a cross-lagged design, we explored the potential causal relationships between preschool children's imaginary companion (IC) status (has an IC or does not) and peer relationships, and between child–IC relationship qualities (i.e., egalitarian or hierarchical relationships) and peer relationships. We collected data from 104 preschool children and their mothers at two timepoints, with the interval being approximately 1 year. At each timepoint, children were interviewed about their IC status and were taken through a sociometric nomination exercise. Mothers took part in the IC interview. The findings revealed that fewer rejections by children's peers may result in a higher likelihood of children creating ICs. Further, egalitarian child–IC relationships could reduce peer rejections to a certain degree compared with hierarchical child–IC relationships. Implications of the findings are discussed for theory and practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
– Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright
  Label:
  Group: Ab
  Data: <i>Copyright of Social Behavior & Personality: an international journal is the property of Scientific Journal Publishers Limited and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
PLink https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=pbh&AN=192154811
RecordInfo BibRecord:
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    Identifiers:
      – Type: doi
        Value: 10.2224/sbp.15379
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      – Code: eng
        Text: English
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        PageCount: 11
        StartPage: 1
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      – SubjectFull: Peer relations
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Preschool children
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Equality
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Child psychology
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Social development
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Longitudinal method
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Chinese people
        Type: general
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      – TitleFull: The longitudinal relationship between Chinese children's imaginary companions and their peer relationships.
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            NameFull: Lin, Qiyi
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            NameFull: Leng, Xincong
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            NameFull: Zhou, Nan
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            NameFull: Chen, Shimin
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          Name:
            NameFull: Jiang, Xinyue
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          Dates:
            – D: 01
              M: 03
              Text: Mar2026
              Type: published
              Y: 2026
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              Value: 54
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            – TitleFull: Social Behavior & Personality: an international journal
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