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Gender, Adult Structuring of Activities
and Social Behavior in Middle Childhood
Huston, A.C., Carpenter, C.J., Atwater,
J.B., & Johnson, L.M.
Child Development, 57.5 (1986) 1200-1209
Purpose:
Examine relationship of gender, high and
low adult structured and guided activities
and adolescent social behavior.
Sample:
110 children (56 boys, 54 girls) ages 7-14,
at a series of 1-week summer day camps.
Methods/Instruments:
Observation, Children's Personal Attributes
Questionnaire.
Results:
- Adult feedback to children in high-structured
activity more frequent than in low-structured
activity with adult female providing more
feedback than did the adult male in both
high- and low-structured activities.
- Girls chose high-structured activities
significantly more often than boys.
- Girls showed higher rates of initiating
social interaction than did boys.
- Campers directed more social behavior
toward adults when in high-structured
activities.
- Campers directed more social behaviors
to peers in low-structured activities,
more often to same gender peers.
- Male and female campers both exhibited
high rates of attempts at leadership,
seeking recognition and complying with
adults in high-structured activities.
- High rates of attempts at leadership,
compliance and recognition seeking to
same gender peers was seen in low-structured
activities.
- Most frequent behavior toward adults
was in seeking help and recognition.
- Most frequent behavior toward peers
were leadership attempts.
"Gender influences selection of environments;
the level of adult structure in those environments
affects social behavior and perhaps modifies
social skills or preferences; and personal
characteristics in turn predict choice of
environments."
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