Preschool‐aged children's understanding of gratitude: Relations with emotion and mental state knowledge. (28th March 2012)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Nelson, Jackie A.; de Lucca, Lia Beatriz; O'Brien, Marion; Calkins, Susan D.; Leerkes, Esther M.; Marcovitch, Stuart
• Is Part Of: British journal of developmental psychology. Volume 31:Number 1(2013:Mar.)
• Page Start: 42
• Page End: 56
• Publication Date: 2012-03-28
• Subjects: Developmental psychology -- Periodicals; 155
• DOI: 10.1111/j.2044-835X.2012.02077.x
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0261-510X

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" xml:lang="en"> <title> <x xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <p>Developmental precursors to children's early understanding of gratitude were examined. A diverse group of 263 children was tested for emotion and mental state knowledge at ages 3 and 4, and their understanding of gratitude was measured at age 5. Children varied widely in their understanding of gratitude, but most understood some aspects of gratitude‐eliciting situations. A model‐building path analysis approach was used to examine longitudinal relations among early emotion and mental state knowledge and later understanding of gratitude. Children with a better early understanding of emotions and mental states understand more about gratitude. Mental state knowledge at age 4 mediated the relation between emotion knowledge at age 3 and gratitude understanding at age 5. The current study contributes to the scant literature on the early emergence of children's understanding of gratitude.</p> </abstract>