SynthesisCognition2016
Training children's theory-of-mind: A meta-analysis of controlled studies.
Synthesis in Cognition, 2016. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to trial NCT06196060 (Improving Theory of Mind in Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder Through Visual Perspective Taking Training), which is not on this map. Cited by 32 papers, 4 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Improving Theory of Mind in Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder Through Visual Perspective Taking Training: Behavioral and Functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy Research
Who cites it
32 citing papers in PubMed, 4 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.
- Theory of mind performance in depression: A meta-analysis.Journal of affective disorders · 2022Pooled it
- A systematic review and meta-analysis of social cognition training success across the healthy lifespan.Scientific reports · 2022Pooled it
- Social cognition in children and adolescents with epilepsy: A meta-analysis.Frontiers in psychiatry · 2022Pooled it
- Theory of Mind and Suicidality: A Meta-Analysis.Archives of suicide research : official journal of the International Academy for Suicide ResearchPooled it
- Visual Perspective Taking Training Improves Theory of Mind in Autistic Children.Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism Research · 2026Trial
- Picture book reading improves children's learning understanding.The British journal of developmental psychology · 2025Trial
- SEE+ computerized classroom-based training enhances 7- to 10-year-olds' socio-emotional cognition through observation and inference.PloS one · 2025Trial
- Visuospatial perspective-taking in social-emotional development: enhancing young children's mind and emotion understanding via block building training.BMC psychology · 2022Trial
- Bridging Emotion in the Classroom with Child Understanding: Initial Findings from Linguistic Analysis for SEL Programs.Behavioral sciences (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026Article
- Teaching Theory of Mind Skills to Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.Journal of autism and developmental disorders · 2026Article
- A new approach to assessment for young children referred by education professionals for socio-emotional, behavioural, and cognitive difficulties.JCPP advances · 2026Article
- Do Theory of Mind and Mental Time Travel abilities build on joint cognitive foundations?Royal Society open science · 2025Article
- Social Understanding and Friendships in Children with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder or Dyslexia.Behavioral sciences (Basel, Switzerland) · 2025Article
- Virtual reality programs targeting executive functions and social cognition evaluation and/or rehabilitation in children with ADHD or ASD-A narrative review.Frontiers in psychology · 2025Review
- Topical Review: Getting into the head of youth with chronic pain: how theory of mind deficits may relate to the development and maintenance of pediatric pain.Journal of pediatric psychology · 2024Article
- Promoting theory of mind and emotion understanding in preschool settings: an exploratory training study.Frontiers in psychology · 2024Article
- Training Syntax to Enhance Theory of Mind in Children with ASD.Journal of autism and developmental disorders · 2023Article
- Difficulties in social cognitive functioning among pediatric patients with muscular dystrophies.Frontiers in psychology · 2023Article
- Early Neuro-Psychomotor Therapy Intervention for Theory of Mind and Emotion Recognition in Neurodevelopmental Disorders: A Pilot Study.Children (Basel, Switzerland) · 2022Article
- Perspective Taking Ability in Psychologically Maltreated Children: A Protective Factor in Peer Social Adjustment.Frontiers in psychology · 2022Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
8 authors.
Funding
Abstract
backgroundTheory-of-mind (ToM) refers to knowledge and awareness of mental states in oneself and others. Various training programs have been developed to improve ToM in children.
objectivesIn the present study, we conducted a quantitative review of ToM training programs that have been tested in controlled studies. DATA SOURCES: A literature search was conducted using PubMed, PsycInfo, the Cochrane Library, and manual searches. REVIEW
methodsWe identified 32 papers with 45 studies or experiments that included 1529 children with an average age of 63 months (SD=28.7).
resultsToM training procedures were more effective than control procedures and their aggregate effect size was moderately strong (Hedges' g=0.75, CI=0.60-0.89, p<.001). Moderator analyses revealed that although ToM training programs were generally effective, ToM skill-related outcomes increased with length of training sessions and were significantly higher in active control studies.
conclusionToM training procedures can effectively enhance ToM in children.
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What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.