A Cambridge University study found that playing with preschool-age friends reduces the risk of mental health problems later on.
According to the Bidal Research Center at the University of Cambridge, successful playmates develop basic thinking skills in social areas and self-regulation, which in turn helps children develop high-quality and peer network.
New research shows that preschoolers who learn to play well with others tend to have better mental health as they get older, and the results provide the first clear evidence that the “ability to play with peers ”and ability to play successfully with other children has a protective effect on mental health.
Researchers at Cambridge University analyzed data on nearly 1,700 children, collected when they were three and seven years old. Those with a better ability to play with their peers at age three continued to show fewer signs of poor mental health after four years, and were more likely to be less hyperactive Parents and teachers report fewer emotional and behavioral problems and are more likely to have fights or disagreements. another child.
According to the research, the association is generally true even though researchers have focused on subgroups of children who are particularly at risk for mental health problems, as it is true when other risk factors are considered. for mental health, such as levels of difficulty or cases in which the mother has experienced severe psychological stress during or immediately after pregnancy.
The findings suggest that giving young children who may be at risk for mental health problems access to supported opportunities to play with their peers, for example in professional -led playgroups in the early years, is can be a way to fully benefit your mental health. . long -term.
Dr Jenny Gibson, from the Center for Play in Education, Development and Learning (PEDAL) at Cambridge University School of Education, said: “We think this connection exists because by playing with others, children get of skills to build solid friendships as they get along. older and start studying, even if they are at risk of having mental health problems, these friendship networks often work. ”
Added by PEDAL student and study first author Dr. Vicki Yiran Gao: “The quality of peer play is important, not the quantity. Peer games that encourage children to collaborate, or activities that promote participation will have a significant positive impact. “
The researchers used data from 1,676 children in the Australian Growth Study, which tracks the development of children born in Australia between March 2003 and February 2004 and includes notes provided by parents and carers if how well the children play three years.
This includes a wide variety of play between peers, including simple games, imaginative games, goal -directed activities, and cooperative games such as hide -and -seek.
These four indicators of peer play were used to create a measure of “peer play ability,” a child’s basic ability to interact with peers in a playful way.
Researchers calculated the strength of the correlation between this dimension and reported symptoms of potential mental health problems: hyperactivity, behavior, emotional problems, and peer problems at that age. seven.
The study then looked at two subgroups of children within the general group, those with high “reactivity” (children who are very irritable and difficult to calm down in childhood), and children with low “persistence” ( children who have difficulty with perseverance when faced with problems). a difficult task) and, according to the study, these two characteristics are associated with worse mental health outcomes.
Across the entire data set, children with higher play ability peers at age three continued to show lower signs of mental health problems at age seven. For every unit increase in peer play ability at age three, children’s measured scores for hyperactivity problems at age seven dropped by 8.4%, behavioral problems by 8%, emotional which is 9.8% and problems with peers 14%. This applies regardless of potential confounders, such as the mother’s levels of difficulty and anxiety, and whether or not they have opportunities to play with siblings and parents.
According to the results, a consistent correlation between playmates and mental health may exist because playing with others supports the development of emotional self-control and social thinking skills, such as ability to understand and respond to the feelings of others, which is important. . to build stable and mutual friendships.
In general, studies show that the better a person’s social relationships, the better their mental health. For children, more social bonds also create a good cycle, which generally leads to more opportunities to play with peers.
Dr. suggested. Gibson focused on giving children a better opportunity to meet and play with their peers, and he urged parents to pay attention to these details.
Source: medicalexpress
Source: Arabic RT
