Parent–child relationships and Chinese children's social adaptations: Gender difference in parent–child dyads

Based on data from 1,366 Chinese preschoolers aged 31–77 months from 62 preschools, this study compared differences among four parent–child dyads in parent–child relationships and the associations between parent–child relationships and children's social adaptations. According to the results, the same‐sex dyad and opposite‐sex dyad patterns were tested. The results showed the same‐sex dyad and opposite‐sex dyad patterns in parent–child closeness. Mother–daughter dyads had more closeness than mother–son dyads; father–daughter dyads had more closeness than father–son dyads. The results were more supportive of the same‐sex dyad pattern in the associations between parent–child relationships and social adaptations. Mother–child closeness predicted girls' greater social skills and fewer problem behaviors; father–child conflict predicted boys' worse social skills and greater problem behaviors.