Santos, António JoséVaughn, Brian E.Peceguina, Maria Inês DuarteDaniel, João Rodrigo2014-05-152014-05-152014Developmental Psychology. 50( 3), 968–978. DOI: 10.1037/a00343440012-1649http://hdl.handle.net/10400.12/2851This study examines the temporal stability (over 3 years) of individual differences in 3 domains relevant to preschool children’s social competence: social engagement/motivation, profiles of behavior and personality attributes characteristic of socially competent young children, and peer acceptance. Each domain was measured with multiple indicators. Sociometric status categories (Asher & Dodge, 1986) and reciprocated friendships were derived from sociometric data. Composites for social competence domains were significantly associated across all time points. Within age-periods, social competence domains were associated with both sociometric and friendship status categories; however, neither sociometric status nor reciprocated friendships were stable over time. Nevertheless, analyses examining the social competence antecedents to reciprocated friendship at age-4 and age-5 suggested that more socially competent children in the prior year were more likely to have a reciprocated friendship in the current year. Popular and rejected sociometric status categories were also associated with social competence indicators in prior years, but this was most clearly seen at age-5.engSocial competenceLongitudinal studyEarly childhoodjournal article