Gender differences in the variables
The model describing the relationships demonstrated a good fit, indicating its effectiveness in capturing the complex relationships between variables. Closeness TCR was found to positively impact children’s SR and SE, while conflict TCR had the opposite effect. Both SR and SE had a positive predictive impact on mathematics and vocabulary, consistent with previous research (Valcan et al., 2020). However, gender differences were primarily manifested in terms of SR. This result could be attributed to the rapid development of SR during the preschool years (Berti & Cigala, 2022), along with noticeable differences in teachers’ role expectations for children of different genders (Ewing & Taylor, 2009). Teachers expect girls to exhibit behaviors that align with societal expectations, including better SR. In contrast, expectations for boys may be lower, potentially leading to challenges for boys in SR. This gender difference underscores the significant role of social and cultural factors in gender role socialization (Hamre & Pianta, 2001). Notably, no significant gender differences were found in TCR. This may reflect the influence of different cultural and social environments on them. In China, the Ministry of Education of the People’s Republic of China emphasized the importance of teachers establishing good relationships with children (MOC. 2022) which may contribute to the absence of gender differences in closeness TCR. Meanwhile, Chinese preschool teachers emphasize discipline, order, and collectivist values (Hu et al., 2015), TCR might exhibit a more authoritative approach, making conflict TCR relatively consistent across genders. Lastly, no gender differences were observed in SE and academic achievement. This further supports the idea that girls’ advantages in SE and academic achievement may decrease between ages 3-6 (Bornsteinet al., 2004) or may not have fully emerged yet (Doctoroffet al., 2016). It reminds us that gender differences may manifest itself differently in various developmental stages, requiring more in-depth research to understand the reasons for these changes.