Loading...
Predictors of individual differences in emerging adult theory of mind
Stewart, Suzanne L. K. Kirkham, Julie A.
Stewart, Suzanne L. K.
Kirkham, Julie A.
Advisors
Editors
Other Contributors
Affiliation
EPub Date
Publication Date
2020-05-21
Submitted Date
Collections
Files
Loading...
Main article
Adobe PDF, 204.06 KB
Other Titles
Abstract
Little is known about what factors are associated with emerging adult theory of mind (ToM). We predicted that childhood fantasy play (CFP), need for cognition (NfC), and fiction reading would be positive predictors due to their deliberative, perspective-taking nature while engagement with media and technology would be a negative predictor due to increased interpersonal distance. The best-fit mixed logit model (n = 369) showed that CFP, texting frequency, and NfC were significant positive predictors while smartphone usage and preference for task switching were significant negative predictors. Email and phone call usage were contributing non-significant negative predictors. Our study extends previous findings regarding NfC, and highlights the importance of CFP engagement for ToM beyond immediate childhood. Future research should investigate how subtly different media (e.g., texting vs smartphone use) have differential predictive relationships with social cognition. Data and code are available at doi: 10.17605/OSF.IO/CBD9J.
Citation
Stewart, S, K. & Kirkham, J, A. (2022). Predictors of individual differences in emerging adult theory of mind. Emerging Adulthood, 10(2), 558–565. https://doi.org/10.1177/2167696820926300
Publisher
SAGE Publications
Journal
Emerging Adulthood
Research Unit
DOI
10.1177/2167696820926300
PubMed ID
PubMed Central ID
Type
Article
Language
Description
Series/Report no.
ISSN
2167-6968
EISSN
2167-6984