ASSESSMENT OF PEER NEGLECT IN THE PRESCHOOL YEARS - A SHORT-TERM LONGITUDINAL-STUDY

Examined concurrent and longitudinal relations between different measu res of peer neglect in the preschool years. Measures of social compete nce included peer sociometrics, teacher ratings, and behavioral observ ations of peer interactions. Participants were sixty 4- to 5-year-old Caucasian boys from low-income family backgrounds. Results indicated t hat the stability of indicators of peer neglect and social isolation d epended on the measure employed. Correlations between different measur es suggested heterogeneity in patterns of social adaptation among negl ected or isolated preschool children. Results are discussed emphasizin g the need to rely on multiple indicators for the assessment of presch ool children's social competences.