Abstract

The goal of this research was to assess the processes that underlie children's social competence in different cultural and social contexts. Multilevel modeling was used to examine the effects of culture, SES, and sex on the relationships between (a) the predictors and indices of social competence, and (b) social competence and depressed affect, in high- and low-SES children (n=1067) in grades 4, 5, and 6 in Colombia and Canada. Findings indicated that the strength of the associations between the individual characteristics of social avoidance, athleticism, aggression, and caring, and the social competence indices of friendship and liking varied across culture, SES, and sex in unique ways. Specifically, social avoidance was a stronger negative predictor of social competence among high-SES than among low-SES individuals, especially among Colombian children. There was an overall positive relationship between athletic competence and peer competence, but this association was strongest among low-SES boys. Aggression was a stronger negative predictor of social competence among boys than among girls, especially among Canadian children. There was an overall positive relationship between caring and social competence indices, but this relationship was stronger for low-SES individuals than for high-SES children. The relationship between social competence and depressed affect was moderated by a three-way interaction between culture, SES, and sex; the strongest association between these variables occurred among high-SES Colombian girls. These findings highlight the importance of considering within-culture differences in conjunction with between-culture differences, and are discussed in relation to the distinguishing dimensions of individualism and collectivism