This study aimed to determine the psychometric properties of the Theory of Mind assessment scale in children (ToMas-child). Spanish children from 3 to 7 years were assessed in school settings. Rasch analysis showed the ToMas-child is a unidimensional scale valid for the assessment of the main components of the ToM in children. Data of hierarchical distribution of six items (seven tasks) are discussed as milestones in the latent construct of ToM development in childhood, and construct validity of the scale is examined. A reliability index of PSI=0.7 indicated the usefulness of the scale as a screening tool.
BackgroundSocial cognitive deficits are common after traumatic brain injury (TBI). The participant in this single-case experimental design (SCED) was 7 years old when he sustained a severe TBI. After 2 years in rehabilitation, he continues to show deficits in social cognition.ObjectiveTo determine the effectiveness of three interventions, each aimed at improving a behavior altered by social cognition deficits. These behaviors were: (1) expression of positive emotions, (2) reacting to changes in plans, and (3) greeting classmates.MethodAn A-B-A’ design was used for each behavior. In addition, each behavior was targeted with a rehabilitation program applied over 10 sessions.ResultsFor the first behavior, changes between phases B-A’ (NAP = 0.712) and A-A’ (NAP = 0.864) indicated improvements in the child’s ability to express positive emotions. In the second behavior, changes in the intensity of reactions between phases B and A’ (NAP = 0.815) and A vs. A’ (NAP = 0.834) indicated that the child adapted to changes in a plan and to unexpected situations in a more adaptive way. For the third behavior, changes in the number of greetings between phases A and B (NAP = 0.883) and A vs. A’ (NAP = 0.844) suggested that during the third phase of the study, the participant fully acquired the habit of greeting peers and increased his interactions with others.ConclusionWhile the participant showed improvements in all three targeted behaviors, due to the complexity of the third behavior, it is recommended that in future research, the intervention targeting social interactions should be applied over a longer timeframe to ensure that improvements are more stable in the long term.
La teoría de la mente (ToM) es la capacidad para reconocer los estados mentales de otras personas y de uno mismo para así poder actuar en consecuencia. Los objetivos fueron determinar si la adquisición de los ítems que sirven para evaluar la ToM entre los 5 y 6 años sigue una estructura jerárquica y cuáles son sus relaciones con otros factores. Método: 73 niños con una media de edad de 6.2 años fueron evaluados con una escala de la ToM de 7 ítems adaptados al español y una subescala de lenguaje pragmático. El análisis de Rasch mostró que la adquisición de los ítems de la escala de la ToM sigue un orden jerárquico, ligeramente distinto al de otras culturas. Se encontraron asociaciones significativas de ítems de la ToM con lenguaje pragmático y convivencia con hermanos/as. El desarrollo de los diferentes hitos que componen la Teoría de la Mente entre los 5 y 6 años se produce de forma jerárquica, con un orden que varía entre diferentes culturas. La adquisición de varios hitos de la ToM a estas edades se asocia con el grado de desarrollo de la capacidad lingüística pragmática de los niños/as y su convivencia con hermanos/as, especialmente si son hermanos/as mayores.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.