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Age- and sex-related differences in social competence and emotion labeling in pre-adolescence

Year: 2024

Type: article

Abstract: Identification of facial expressions is important to navigate social interactions and associates with developmental outcomes. It is presumed that social competence, behavioral emotion labeling and neural emotional face processing are related, but this has rarely been studied. Here, we investigated these interrelations and their associations with age and sex, in the YOUth cohort (1055 children, 8–11 years old). Using a multistep linear modelling approach, we associated parent-reported social competence, basic emotion labeling skills based on pictures of facial expressions, and neural facial emotion processing during a passive-watching fMRI task with pictures of houses and emotional faces. Results showed better emotion labeling and higher social competence for girls compared to boys. Age was positively associated with emotion labeling skills and specific social competence subscales. These age- and sex-differences were not reflected in brain function. During fMRI, happy faces elicited more activity than neutral or fearful faces. However, we did not find evidence for the hypothesized links between social competence and behavioral emotion labeling, and with neural activity. To conclude, in pre-adolescents, social competence and emotion labeling varied with age and sex, while social competence, emotion labeling and neural processing of emotional faces were not associated with each other. • Girls score higher than boys on social competence scales. • Emotion labeling accuracy and speed are better in girls than in boys. • Prosocial behavior and perspective taking are positively associated with age. • Emotion labeling accuracy and speed are positively associated with age. • No support for interrelations between social competence, emotion labeling and neural emotion processing in pre-adolescents.

Source: Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience

DOI: 10.1016/j.dcn.2024.101503

Authors: Elizabeth E.L. Buimer, Pascal Pas, Carlijn van den Boomen, Mathijs Raemaekers, Rachel M. Brouwer, Hilleke E. Hulshoff Pol

Institutions: Leiden University, Utrecht University, University Medical Center Utrecht

Language: English

Topic: Child and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development

Subfield: Clinical Psychology

Field: Psychology

Domain: Social Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $3,440