Mentale Begriffe und Theory of Mind bei Vorschulkindern mit und ohne spezifische Sprachentwicklungsstörung

Zusammenfassung

Der Erwerb mentaler Begriffe verläuft bei Kindern mit normaler Sprachentwicklung (nSE) phasenhaft und parallel zu ihrer Theory of Mind (ToM)-Entwicklung, die zentral für soziale Interaktion ist. Ziel der Studie war es, die Spontansprache von deutschsprachigen Vorschulkindern mit und ohne spezifische Sprachentwicklungsstörung (SSES) auf ihren Gebrauch mentaler Begriffe zu analysieren und auf mögliche Zusammenhänge mit ihrem ToM-Verständnis zu untersuchen. Das ToM-Verständnis von jeweils 22 Kindern mit und ohne SSES wurde getestet und die Spontansprache auf mentale Begriffe untersucht. Kinder mit SSES schnitten schlechter bei ToM-Aufgaben ab und verwendeten weniger mentale Begriffe als Kinder mit nSE. Es gab eine signifikante partielle Korrelation zwischen ToM-Leistungen und dem Gebrauch mentaler Begriffe bei Kindern mit nSE, aber nicht bei Kindern mit SSES. Im Vergleich zur gleichaltrigen Kontrollgruppe scheinen Kinder mit SSES in ihrer ToM-Entwicklung verzögert zu sein.

Abstract

Children with typical development (TD) acquire mental state terms in phases and this development parallels their Theory of Mind (ToM) development, which is key in social interactions. The aim of this study was to analyse the language of German-speaking preschool children with and without specific language impairment (SLI) for mental state terms and investigate possible links between ToM and mental state terms. Twenty-two children with and without SLI participated in ToM tasks and their spontaneous language was analysed for mental state terms. Children with SLI scored lower on ToM tasks and used less mental state terms than children with TD. There was a significant partial correlation between ToM and mental state terms in children with TD but not in children with SLI. Results suggest that children with SLI may be delayed in their development of ToM and mental state terms.

Schlüsselwörter

mentale Begriffe - Theory of Mind - Vorschulkinder - spezifische Sprachentwicklungsstörung

Keywords

mental state terms - Theory of Mind - preschool children - specific language impairment

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