Interpersonal Synchrony and Affiliation in Children: A Transdiagnostic Approach

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Abstract
Social partners often co-ordinate their non-verbal behaviour in time, leading to interpersonal synchrony (IPS). IPS is known to positively influence neurotypical children's assessment of affiliation between social partners, but it is unclear whether IPS informs the social judgements of children who are not neurotypical. Children aged 4 to 8 years identified as experiencing emotional, behavioural and/or cognitive difficulties ( N = 136) completed a computer-based task in which they listened to tapping interactions between social partners. The simultaneity and regularity of partner tapping was independently manipulated. Participants rated partner affiliation and the ‘togetherness’ of partner tapping. Parents reported on children's: emotional and behavioural difficulties, autistic traits and inattention/hyperactivity. IPS did not significantly influence affiliation judgements across the sample as a whole. However, when analysed by gender, regularity (but not simultaneity) positively influenced boys’ perceptions of partner affiliation, whereas simultaneity (but not regularity) positively influenced girls’ affiliation judgements. Sensitivity to the social effects of IPS was not associated with parent-reported levels of difficulties or neurodivergent traits. Overall, children identified as experiencing emotional, behavioural and/or cognitive difficulties showed limited sensitivity to the social effects of IPS. Further research is required to understand the factors that explain variation in sensitivity to IPS as a social cue.
Funding Information
  • Waterloo Foundation (511633)

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