Work

Prevalence of Imaginary Companions in Children: A Meta-analysis

Year: 2018

Type: review

Study designs: Systematic Review, Meta-Analysis

Abstract: Having an imaginary companion (IC) is a fascinating example of children's imaginative and pretend play.However, there are inconsistencies in the reported prevalence of children's ICs.This study examined how culture may affect this prevalence.We conducted a meta-analysis to assess whether the culture as well as age, assessment method, sex, and birth order may affect the prevalence of ICs in studies that included children under 12 years of age.The results revealed that culture as well as assessment method and sex/birth order may have a significant impact on the prevalence of ICs.Specifically, children in Western cultures were more likely to report invisible friends as compared to those in Japan, but the total prevalence of ICs did not differ across cultures.We illustrate several implications for future research on ICs.

Source: Merrill-palmer Quarterly

DOI: 10.13110/merrpalmquar1982.64.4.0459

Authors: Yusuke Moriguchi, Naoya Todo

Institutions: Kyoto University, National Institution for Academic Degrees and Quality Enhancement of Higher Education

Language: English

Topic: Child and Animal Learning Development

Subfield: Developmental and Educational Psychology

Field: Psychology

Domain: Social Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: bronze

Funder: Japan Science and Technology Agency