The purposes of this study were to examine relations among attachment
security, playfulness, and social competence during the preschool period and to
investigate relative effects of attachment security and playfulness on
preschoolers’ social competence. A total of forty eight 4-year-old preschool
children participated in the current study. Attachment security was assessed
using the Attachment Q-sort during a two- or two and half hour home visit.
Preschoolers’ playfulness and social competence were evaluated by mothers.
First, preschoolers’ attachment security was significantly associated with their
interpersonal adjustment. Preschoolers with secure attachment were rated by
their mothers as having higher interpersonal adjustment. In addition,
preschoolers’ playfulness was significantly related to popularity/leadership and
social participation. Second, when preschoolers’ attachment security and
playfulness were entered together to predict social competence, attachment
security and sense of humor were significant predictors of preschoolers’
interpersonal adjustment, and social and cognitive spontaneity significantly
predicted popularity/leadership. With respect to social participation,
preschoolers’ physical spontaneity was a significant predictor. Findings of this
study indicate that attachment security and playfulness tap into different aspects
of social competence, suggesting that both are needed to be emphasized in the
development of social competence during the preschool period.