An Examination of the Behavioral Correlates of Subtypes of Nonsocial Play Among Chinese Preschoolers

This study examined via teacher reports the behavioral correlates of different forms of nonsocial play among Chinese preschoolers, as well as potential gender differences in the linkages in a sample of preschoolers (249 boys, 257 girls) from two cities in mainland China. Measurement models estimated with two-group confirmatory factor analyses yielded invariant factor structures for boys and girls for each of the behavioral measures assessed. Results showed that, for boys and girls, solitary-passive play was negatively associated with prosocial behavior, assertiveness, and teacher delights, and positively related to venting, nonconformance, distractible behavior, fearfulness, depression, and automanipulation. Solitary-passive play was also positively correlated with victimization for girls only. Solitary-active play was negatively associated with prosocial behavior, assertiveness, and teacher delights, and positively related to physical aggression, victimization, venting, nonconformance, distractible behavior, fearfulness, depression, and automanipulation for boys and girls. Reticence, for boys and girls, was negatively correlated with prosocial behavior, assertiveness, and teacher delights, as well as positively related to venting, nonconformance, distractible behavior, fearfulness, depression, and automanipulation.