{"title":"Caregivers' use of iconic words is associated with high positive engagement by both caregivers and infants.","authors":"Kirsty R Green, Marcus Perlman, Sotaro Kita","doi":"10.1093/chidev/aacag122","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/chidev/aacag122","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Iconic words are more frequent in infant-directed speech, but it is not known why. We examine whether caregivers use iconic words to engage infants in interaction. In two studies (Study 2 preregistered), involving five White American English-speaking 18-month-olds (three female; data collected between 2002 and 2005) and 45 American English-speaking 13- to 23-month-olds (23 female; 32 White, 10 Mixed Race, 1 Black/African American, and 2 Other; data collected between 2017 and 2020), we used iconicity ratings to identify the 10 most and least iconic 10-s windows (bouts) in caregiver speech. In high compared to low-iconicity bouts, infants gazed more at caregivers, gazed more at the subject of conversation, and more often smiled, laughed, gestured, and verbalized. Mothers' utterances within high-iconicity bouts were also higher in pitch and slower in speech rate than those in low-iconicity bouts.</p>","PeriodicalId":10109,"journal":{"name":"Child development","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.6,"publicationDate":"2026-07-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148577297","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Matthew C Fysh,Aimilia Kallitsounaki,Eilis Kennedy,Lauren Spinner,David M Williams
{"title":"Social-cognitive signatures of autism are independent of gender identity: Evidence from theory of mind and alexithymia in youth and caregivers.","authors":"Matthew C Fysh,Aimilia Kallitsounaki,Eilis Kennedy,Lauren Spinner,David M Williams","doi":"10.1093/chidev/aacag112","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/chidev/aacag112","url":null,"abstract":"Some argue that autism in gender-diverse people may reflect the effects of gender-related distress and minority stress producing autism-like features, rather than biologically based neurodiversity. We tested key predictions stemming from this \"phenocopy\" account by examining whether autism-related cognitive characteristics would track gender identity (cisgender/gender diverse) rather than autism diagnosis. Specifically, the phenocopy account predicts that the behavioral features of autism in gender-diverse people are superficial and therefore will not be accompanied by an autism-typical cognitive profile. We tested this in a 2 (diagnostic status: autistic vs. non-autistic) × 2 (gender identity status: cisgender vs. gender diverse) design, for which data collection ran from March 2023 to March 2025 and took part exclusively in the United Kingdom. In Study 1, 181 matched youth (aged 7-16 years; 89% White) completed theory of mind (ToM) measures, and alexithymia was assessed via parental report. In Study 2, 202 caregivers (aged 28-62 years; 96% White) completed similar measures. Autistic youth showed lower ToM (ηp2 = .07) and higher alexithymia (ηp2 ≥ .09), irrespective of gender identity. Caregivers of autistic youth exhibited higher alexithymia (ηp2 = .04), but no ToM differences (ηp2 ≤ .01). The findings provide no evidence for the phenocopy account but can inform clinical support.","PeriodicalId":10109,"journal":{"name":"Child development","volume":"29 1 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.6,"publicationDate":"2026-07-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148522427","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Intergenerational test of PROSPER substance use intervention effects: A developmental cascade from adolescent social problem-solving to next-generation childrearing environment to children's social-emotional competence.","authors":"Gregory M Fosco,Mark E Feinberg","doi":"10.1093/chidev/aacag130","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/chidev/aacag130","url":null,"abstract":"The current study evaluated a developmental cascade model in which PROSPER-delivered substance use preventive interventions impact next-generation children's psychosocial outcomes. This study evaluated a sample of 395 participants (Mage = 28.29, 94% White) from the original PROSPER community-randomized trial following two cohorts of adolescents starting in 2002 and 2003 (measured across Grades 6-10), who now have young children (measured in two waves of parenthood between 2019 and 2022). Analysis of the developmental cascade model revealed that PROSPER interventions promoted adolescents' social problem-solving skills, which in turn was associated with a more positive childrearing environment (cohesion, conflict, routines) 16 years later. In turn, the childrearing environment predicted next-generation children's social-emotional competence. Findings indicate that evidence-based universal programs may have intergenerational public health implications.","PeriodicalId":10109,"journal":{"name":"Child development","volume":"243 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.6,"publicationDate":"2026-07-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148522428","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Emerging field-specific beliefs about brilliance and their gendered impact on children's academic interests.","authors":"Molly Tallberg,Lin Bian","doi":"10.1093/chidev/aacag111","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/chidev/aacag111","url":null,"abstract":"Cultural beliefs that success in certain fields depends on brilliance undermine women's participation in those fields, as demonstrated in adults. Understanding the development and consequences of these field-specific brilliance beliefs in early childhood is crucial for addressing gender gaps at their roots. The present research (N = 352; 5- to 10-year olds; 50% girls; 45.4% White) showed that children around age six began to attribute brilliance to computer science but not biology, suggesting that distinct associations between brilliance and fields emerge early. Brilliance beliefs shaped children's academic interests: girls were less interested than boys in pursuing a science field requiring brilliance. These findings highlight that gender disparities take hold early, and disrupting brilliance-field associations may promote greater gender equity.","PeriodicalId":10109,"journal":{"name":"Child development","volume":"60 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.6,"publicationDate":"2026-07-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148522425","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
B Corbett,E Grew,C McShane,L Wood,C Scholz,E Flynn,K Corriveau,M Kornbluh,J Watling Neal,J Xu,J B Dautel
{"title":"Some things are better left behind: Adolescent transmission of conflict narratives in a divided society.","authors":"B Corbett,E Grew,C McShane,L Wood,C Scholz,E Flynn,K Corriveau,M Kornbluh,J Watling Neal,J Xu,J B Dautel","doi":"10.1093/chidev/aacag124","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/chidev/aacag124","url":null,"abstract":"This pre-registered study investigated how adolescents in a context of long-standing ethno-political polarization-Northern Ireland-transmit contested narratives. Much like the children's game of telephone, adolescents (N = 395, Mage = 14.56, SD = 2.16; range 10-18 years; 55.7% female, 42.0% male; 57.1% White-Irish, 32.5% White-British, 6.3% White-Other) read and recalled narratives for other participants; a process repeated sequentially across chains of four people. Narratives were either conflict-related or non-conflict control. Across homogeneous (same ethno-political group) and mixed (alternating group) chains, we found that information was rapidly lost or changed. This occurred to a greater extent in conflict compared to non-conflict conditions. We found no evidence for preferential transmission of ingroup-enhancing information, though nonpartisan recall slightly decreased with age. Adolescent information transmission may interrupt cycles of division in conflict-affected settings.","PeriodicalId":10109,"journal":{"name":"Child development","volume":"155 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.6,"publicationDate":"2026-07-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148462664","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Dieter Wolke, Ahuti Das-Friebel, Yanlin Zhou, Nicole Tsalacopoulos, Peter Bartmann
{"title":"Childhood experiences partly explain adult outcomes after very preterm or very low birth weight.","authors":"Dieter Wolke, Ahuti Das-Friebel, Yanlin Zhou, Nicole Tsalacopoulos, Peter Bartmann","doi":"10.1093/chidev/aacag103","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/chidev/aacag103","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This study assessed whether associations between very preterm birth (<32 weeks' gestation) or very low birth weight (<1,500 g; VPT/VLBW) and adult outcomes of physical and mental health, wealth, and social relationships are mediated by childhood experiences of neurodevelopmental impairment, academic achievement, mental health, and parent-child and peer relationships. A Bavarian population-based cohort (N = 489; VPT/VLBW = 260; term-controls (TC) = 229; 49.9% females, White) were assessed at birth, 6, 8, 13, and 26 years (1985-2014). VPT/VLBW was associated with adverse childhood experiences and adulthood outcomes. Disparities in academic achievement, parent-child relationship and impairment explained lower wealth and social relationships, lower mental health and adult-parent relationship, and lower physical health for VPT/VLBW versus TC adults. Targeting schooling and parenting may improve long-term outcomes for VPT/VLBW individuals.</p>","PeriodicalId":10109,"journal":{"name":"Child development","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.6,"publicationDate":"2026-07-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148444667","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Louise Faure, Rachel Zoubrinetzky, Marie-Ange Nguyen-Morel, Eric Guinet, Fernando Núñez-Regueiro, Estelle Gillet-Perret, Marcela Perrone-Bertolotti
{"title":"Interaction between oral language comprehension and executive functions in typical development: A graph-theory analysis of behavioral data.","authors":"Louise Faure, Rachel Zoubrinetzky, Marie-Ange Nguyen-Morel, Eric Guinet, Fernando Núñez-Regueiro, Estelle Gillet-Perret, Marcela Perrone-Bertolotti","doi":"10.1093/chidev/aacag128","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/chidev/aacag128","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This study investigates the evolving relationship between oral language comprehension (phonology, vocabulary, syntax) and verbal and nonverbal executive functions -EF- (inhibition, working memory, updating) in 395 typically developing French children aged 5 to 8 years (M = 7 years; SD = 11.91 months; 52% girls). Behavioral performances were analyzed using a graph-theory approach, allowing for the modeling of cognitive networks. Results showed a shift from early integration between language and EF in Kindergarten to increasing segregation and specialization by 3rd grade, associated with improvements in task performance and reduced interindividual variability along development. These findings highlight the dynamic between language comprehension and EF in children from the general population with further implications for developmental and clinical perspectives on language-related disorders.</p>","PeriodicalId":10109,"journal":{"name":"Child development","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.6,"publicationDate":"2026-07-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148435384","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Agents of possibility: Specifying which person an event involved helps children gauge what is possible.","authors":"Brandon W Goulding,Samuel Ronfard,Ori Friedman","doi":"10.1093/chidev/aacag129","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/chidev/aacag129","url":null,"abstract":"Children often deny the possibility of unusual and improbable events and immoral actions. Three preregistered experiments on 5- and 6-year-old children (N = 154, 47% female, 53% male, tested across three sites in Canada with varied ethnic compositions between March and September 2025) find that children better recognize that improbable events are possible when the events include agents who could plausibly be involved in them and who might want to produce them. In Experiments 1 and 2, children affirmed possibility more when unusual events were described as involving thematically related agents rather than unrelated or indefinite ones. Children also affirmed possibility more for actions that could be voluntarily chosen than for incidents that might happen involuntarily. In Experiment 3, children affirmed possibility more when improbable events involved agents with relevant motives and locations, but this did not affect children's judgments about the possibility of acting immorally. These findings suggest that children often deny the possibility of improbable events because they fail to recall relevant knowledge useful for envisaging the circumstances behind the events.","PeriodicalId":10109,"journal":{"name":"Child development","volume":"12 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.6,"publicationDate":"2026-07-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148416162","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Executive functions and social development: Bidirectional pathways and gender differences from kindergarten to preadolescence.","authors":"Maram Badarneh,Reout Arbel,Yair Ziv","doi":"10.1093/chidev/aacag116","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/chidev/aacag116","url":null,"abstract":"Socio-emotional functioning and executive functions (EFs) are interrelated and fundamental to children's development. Yet, the nature and direction of their links across childhood remain unclear. This study examined the bidirectional links between EFs (inhibitory control, working memory, cognitive flexibility) and socio-emotional functioning (prosocial behavior, externalizing, and internalizing problems) from kindergarten to Grades 4-6. Participants were 225 Arab and Jewish children (109 girls) assessed at 2 time points. Results showed that (a) distinct EF components were concurrently linked to lower levels of externalizing and internalizing problems, (b) cognitive flexibility was positively linked to prosocial behavior in kindergarten, (c) early externalizing problems predicted lower inhibitory control, and (d) gender moderated specific concurrent and longitudinal pathways involving cognitive flexibility. These links showed modest to moderate effect sizes. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.","PeriodicalId":10109,"journal":{"name":"Child development","volume":"44 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.6,"publicationDate":"2026-07-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148416160","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Social robots' verbal time updates facilitate children's persistence in challenging tasks: A comparison with humans.","authors":"Moeko Ishikawa,Sana Matsumura,Hamed Mahzoon,Yuichiro Yoshikawa,Yasuhiro Kanakogi","doi":"10.1093/chidev/aacag125","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/chidev/aacag125","url":null,"abstract":"This study examined whether social robots influence 4-5-year-olds' persistence. Almost all participants (97%) were Japanese. Most participants lived in urban or suburban areas in Osaka and came from middle socioeconomic backgrounds. The data were collected in 2023-2025. In Experiment 1 (N = 108, 45 girls), a robot's verbal time updates enhanced persistence, but robot interactions did not. In Experiment 2 (N = 27, 12 girls), providing time updates from a personal computer (PC) did not increase persistence. In Experiment 3 (N = 54, 24 girls), children worked with a robot (from Experiment 1), a human, or alone. Verbal time updates from both agents increased persistence compared to working alone although children behaved differently, for example, making qualitatively different comments to each agent. Findings indicate that robots and humans can foster children's persistence, though their roles may differ, reflecting robots' growing presence in children's lives.","PeriodicalId":10109,"journal":{"name":"Child development","volume":"17 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.6,"publicationDate":"2026-07-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148416760","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}