Abstract
This cross-cultural study compared family environments and performance on theory of mind (ToM) and executive function (EF) in 236 3- to 6-year-old children in Japan (N = 117, Mage = 5.14, SD =0.82, 56 boys and 61 girls) and the UK (N = 119, Mage = 5.09, SD =0.86, 55 boys and 64 girls). Matched for age, verbal ability, gender, SES, and family structure (family size, solo vs. dual parenting, no sibling, no older sibling vs. older sibling), Japanese children showed worse ToM but better EF performance, although not across all measures or ages. This study used carefully matched samples and is the first direct comparison of children from Japan and the UK to examine both ToM and EF. Findings are discussed in relation to sociocultural factors (especially variation in the nature of SES across countries) and the complexity of the development of mind in diverse cultural contexts.
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