Impact of decision-making autonomy and social distance on young Chinese children's sharing behaviour

This research explores how decision-making autonomy and social distance impact young children's sharing behaviour. In Study 1, findings from 159 Chinese children (total N = 159, 72 boys, aged 3-6 years) revealed that children aged 5-6 exhibited significantly more sharing behaviours in the controlled condition, however 3-4 years-olds showed no variance between the two conditions, indicating that the impact of decision-making autonomy on sharing behaviour surfaces around the age of 5-6 years. Study 2 examined the effects of social distance and decision-making autonomy on sharing behaviours among Chinese children aged 5-6 years (total N = 57, 29 boys). Results showed that irrespective of the decision-making condition, children in this age group exhibited a greater tendency to share with close friends. Furthermore, the controlled condition intensified this effect. These findings suggest that the perceived sense of autonomy among Chinese children aged 5-6 when deciding to share may not be as stable as expected, with social distance playing a pivotal role in guiding their sharing decisions. This study enhances our comprehension of how decision-making autonomy and social factors shape young children's prosocial behaviour, underscoring the significant role of social context in influencing sharing behaviours during childhood development.