The passage from kindergarten to school is an important transition phase for children. While the cognitive prerequisites have been well researched, the social well-being of children has hardly been scientifically investigated to date. In this international research project, we are investigating how family relationships and social networks outside the parental home influence children's well-being when they enter school. The aim is to better understand risk and protective factors during this critical transition phase. Among other tools, neuroscientific methods are used, for example to measure biobehavioral synchrony. The results are expected to help develop guidelines to promote social well-being during this important transition phase.

This research is funded by the Austrian Science Fund (FWF) – project number PIN8918824.