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https://hdl.handle.net/2440/97701
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Type: | Journal article |
Title: | Is greater improvement in early self-regulation associated with fewer behavioral problems later in childhood? |
Author: | Sawyer, A. Miller-Lewis, L. Searle, A. Sawyer, M. Lynch, J. |
Citation: | Developmental Psychology, 2015; 51(12):1740-1755 |
Publisher: | American Psychological Association |
Issue Date: | 2015 |
ISSN: | 0012-1649 1939-0599 |
Statement of Responsibility: | Alyssa C. P. Sawyer, Lauren R. Miller-Lewis, Amelia K. Searle, Michael G. Sawyer, John W. Lynch |
Abstract: | The aim of this study was to determine whether the extent of improvement in self-regulation achieved between ages 4 and 6 years is associated with the level of behavioral problems later in childhood. Participants were 4-year-old children (n = 510) attending preschools in South Australia. Children's level of self-regulation was assessed using the parent-completed Devereux Early Childhood Assessment when children were aged 4, 5, and 6. Children's level of behavioral problems was assessed using total, internalizing, and externalizing scores on parent- and teacher-rated Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaires (SDQs) when children were 6 years old. Random effects regression was used to describe the changes to children's self-regulation between 4 and 6 years. Linear regression models were then used to determine the strength of the association between the extent of self-regulation improvement and level of behavioral problems. Greater improvement in self-regulation, adjusted for family characteristics and baseline self-regulation scores, was associated with lower levels of parent- (B = -3.57, 95% confidence interval [CI] [-4.49, -2.65]) and teacher-rated SDQ total difficulties scores at 6 years (B = -2.42, 95% CI [-3.50, -1.34]). These effects remained after adjustment for level of parent-rated behavioral problems at 4 years. Similar effects were found for internalizing and externalizing scores at age 6 years. The results highlight the importance of improvements in self-regulation from 4-6 years for childhood behavioral problems during the early school years. Children with lower levels of improvement in self-regulation early in life are at risk for higher levels of behavioral problems both at home and at school. |
Keywords: | Humans Child Development Child Behavior Disorders Child Child, Preschool Australia Female Male Surveys and Questionnaires Problem Behavior Self-Control |
Rights: | © 2015 APA |
DOI: | 10.1037/a0039829 |
Grant ID: | http://purl.org/au-research/grants/nhmrc/570120 http://purl.org/au-research/grants/nhmrc/399225 |
Published version: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/a0039829 |
Appears in Collections: | Aurora harvest 7 Public Health publications |
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