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The Longitudinal Relation Between Academic/Cognitive Skills and Externalizing Behavior Problems in Preschool Children
Lindsay A Metcalfe1, Elizabeth A Harvey, Holly B Laws
1Department of Psychology, University of Massachusetts Amherst.
Journal of Educational Psychology
|September 17, 2013
Summary
In young children, inattention is linked to academic and cognitive abilities, showing a reciprocal relationship. Early identification of these links is crucial for effective intervention strategies.
Area of Science:
- Child Psychology
- Developmental Neuroscience
- Educational Psychology
Background:
- Existing research indicates a connection between academic/cognitive deficits and externalizing behaviors in young children.
- The precise directionality of this relationship remains unclear, necessitating further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the bidirectional relationship between academic/cognitive functioning and behavior problems in early childhood.
- To test competing models explaining the interplay between cognitive skills and behavioral issues.
Main Methods:
- Longitudinal study of 221 children (120 boys, 101 girls) from ages 3 to 6.
- Analysis of academic achievement, cognitive ability, inattention, hyperactivity, and aggression.
Main Results:
- A reciprocal relationship was found between inattention and academic achievement, persisting after controlling for socioeconomic status and family stress.
- Cognitive skills predicted later inattention, while early behavior problems showed limited predictive power for academic/cognitive ability when family functioning was considered.
- Inattention emerged as a primary driver of the association between academic/cognitive abilities and externalizing problems.
Conclusions:
- The findings suggest that inattention plays a key role in the relationship between academic/cognitive functioning and externalizing problems.
- This relationship is observable early in development, underscoring the importance of timely assessment and intervention for at-risk children.
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