ABSTRACT
ObjectiveTo explore the influence of gender,age and types of peer acceptance on the ability of theory of mind among rural parent-absent children.Methods 312 rural parent-absent children participated in the study (including 162 boys,150 girls; 102 members of 8 year-old,119 members of 9 year-old,and 91 members of 10 year-old).Their ability of theory of mind and types of peer acceptance were examined by the 2nd-order False-beliefs Tasks and Peer nomination.The date were analyzed by Multivariate analysis of variance (ANOVA),LSD checkout and Simple effect analysis.ResultsThere were statistically significant effects on ages in theory of mind,types of peer acceptance ( F=4.57,P=0.011 ; F =3.82,P =0.005 ) and the interaction among gender,ages and types of peer acceptance(F=3.20,P =0.042; F =2.50,P =0.043 ).The least significant different(LSD) assay of the ability of theory of mind age and types of peer acceptance shows:there were statistically significant lies in the divergence of age 8 and age 9 group,and also in age 9 and age 10 group,(I-J =-0.51,P =0.016;I-J =- 0.90,P =0.000 ).In the same way,there were also statistically significant lies in the divergence of the ability of theory of mind performance-popular and rejected ( I-J =1.05,P =0.001 ) ; popular and neglected ( I-J =0.84,P =0.003 ) ; popular and controversial( I-J =1.03,P =0.002) ; rejected and average ( I-J =- 0.66,P =0.02 ) ; controversial and average ( I-J =- 0.64,P=0.034).Results of simple effect shows:there were statistically significant lies in the gender divergence of the 9 age group (F =4.98,P =0.026),the age divergence of girls (F =7.50,P =0.001 ),the gender divergence of controversial groups (F=5.76,P =0.017 ),the peer acceptance divergence of boys(F=4.97,P =0.001),and also the peer acceptance divergence of girls(F =2.54,P =0.04).Conclusion There is substantial connection between the ability of theory of mind of rural parent-absent children and ages and types of peer acceptance.