Effects of Age and Sex on the Development of Personal Space Schemata towards Body Build

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Abstract
This study assessed personal space schemata of white male and female children from kindergarten through third grade (total N = 202) towards stimulus figures representing male and female Endomorphs, Mesomorphs, and Ectomorphs. Results indicate that greater distances were used towards the Endomorph than towards the other two physique types at all grade levels, and that there was a grade-associated increase in the use of space. Greater distances were generally maintained towards female stimuli; in addition, children tended to come closer to same-sex stimuli than towards opposite-sex stimuli. These sex differences were greater at higher grade levels, but were less pronounced at all grade levels in reaction to the Endomorph stimulus. The results were discussed in light of previous studies of the development of personal space and of body build stereotypes.