SOCIAL COGNITIVE CORRELATES OF PRESCHOOL CHILDRENS SIBLING CAREGIVINGBEHAVIOR

This study examined the relation between sibling caregiving and social cognitive knowledge. Fifty-five child-sibling dyads (age 50.6 and 17. 7 months) were observed in a 4-min modified Strange Situation procedur e. For each sibling dyad, the frequency of preschoolers' caregiving ac ts was recorded, as well as the number of seconds the younger siblings were distressed. In a separate assessment, the preschoolers' cognitiv e and emotional role-taking skills, emotional situation knowledge, and knowledge of caregiving scripts were assessed. As predicted, emotiona l role taking, knowledge of caregiving scripts, and toddler distress w ere positively related to sibling caregiving behavior. In contrast, em otional situation knowledge was negatively related to sibling caregivi ng behavior. Results are discussed in terms of the importance of speci fic emotional and prosocial knowledge in the development of young chil dren's sibling relationships.