> …these friendships used to be seen as a sign of loneliness or other problems…
> One study found that Japanese children played with their personified objects more during the pandemic than they had beforehand, suggesting an increased role for these imaginary companions during times of isolation…
So lonely isolated kids turn to imaginary friends more often. But imaginary friends are not a sign of loneliness.
The article treats imaginary friends and personification of objects as being the same thing -- while noting that this is not how people actually use the term "imaginary friend" -- so it draws a bizarre conclusion. Nobody is surprised that children like to play with dolls and stuffed animals.
Personification is something everybody does all the time.
Imaginary friends are something children sometimes do because the culture transmits the idea that they should.
Logically -- scientifically -- a runny nose might not be said to be "a sign of a cold". That is, it is not sufficient evidence to indicate a cold. When paired with other data, it may contribute to a diagnosis. It's not unrelated.
Similarly, an imaginary friend is not "a sign of" loneliness. On its own. When grouped with other data, maybe together they are.
It's just a difference in language usage. "A sign of X" might be taken to mean that on its own, X is implied. Or it might be taken to mean that it can be a contributing factor, but on it's own is meaningless.
> One study found that Japanese children played with their personified objects more during the pandemic than they had beforehand, suggesting an increased role for these imaginary companions during times of isolation…
So lonely isolated kids turn to imaginary friends more often. But imaginary friends are not a sign of loneliness.
Right.