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Play is one of the most important ways that children acquire the social and emotional skills essential for healthy psychological development. The development of positive social skills is linked to better mental health outcomes and is a critical competency in adolescence.
Research demonstrates the positive impact having an Imaginary Companion(IC) has on social-skills development in childhood. ICs have also helped children cope with adverse events such as loneliness, illness or loss. Few studies have sought to understand the experience and impact of childhood ICs in adolescence. Using a quantitative survey design, the first study explored whether an imagery companion in childhood impacts social competence in adolescence. Participants (n = 346) were secondary school aged volunteers who anonymously completed a self-report questionnaire pack in a classroom setting. The pack consisted of two questionnaires evaluating social competence in five separate domains. Four subscales from the Adolescent Self Perception Profile (SPPC) titled Social Competence, Global Self-Worth, Close Friendships and Behaviour Conduct were used. The Short Form Self-Regulation Questionnaire(SSRQ) was also used.
For the second study, seven secondary school aged volunteers were interviewed. Participants had direct experience of IC. The interviews were semi-structured questions based on participants’ experience and use of ICs. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and analysed following guidelines for Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis.
Findings indicate that ICs in childhood have a positive impact on the development of specific social competence and behavioural skills required in adolescence. Findings also point to ICs’ mental health benefits in supporting children and adolescents during challenging times.
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