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.