Bidirectional relations between self-control and cooperation among Japanese preschoolers: A random-intercept cross-lagged panel analysis

• Published in: Early childhood research quarterly 2023-01, Vol.64, p.139-147
• Main Authors: Zhu, Yantong, Zhu, Zhu, Jiao, Dandan, Li, Xiang, Tanaka, Emiko, Tomisaki, Etsuko, Watanabe, Taeko, Sawada, Yuko, Matsumoto, Munenori, Cui, Mingyu, Liu, Yang, Anme, Tokie
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Childcare; Cooperation; Preschoolers; Random intercept cross-lagged panel model; Self-control
• ISSN: 0885-2006
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ecresq.2023.02.010

•Between-person positive association between self-control and cooperation.•Childcare entry age did not affect self-control-cooperation relationship.•Preschoolers’ self-control in one year predicted their cooperation in the next year. Self-control and cooperation are interrelated among preschoolers, and research on the effect of age at entry into childcare on both variables remains controversial. Using a random intercept cross-lagged panel model, this study examined the bidirectional relationships between self-control and cooperation and the effect of age at entry into childcare using three waves of data (2018, 2019, and 2020) from 316 Japanese preschoolers (age three in 2018; 58.9% boys). The positive association between the two constructs occurred at the between- and within-person levels. No significant differences were found in the age of entry into childcare. The findings reveal a developmental link between self-control and cooperation, the implications of which are further discussed.