Child Care and Early Education Research Connections

Skip to main content

Latent growth trajectories of peer context behavior problems across preschool, kindergarten and first grade

Description:

This study examines the development of problem behavior in classroom contexts characterized by peer interaction among a nationally representative sample (N = 3,827) of U.S. low-income children from preschool entry to first grade. Latent growth mixture modeling was employed to identify unobserved subpopulations (latent classes) with shared trajectories of change, examine subpopulation members’ social and academic outcomes in first grade, and identify demographic characteristics that serve as risk or protective factors for membership in different trajectory classes. Analyses reveal four common change trajectories (Progressive Optimal Adjustment, Stable Good Adjustment, Stable Adequate Adjustment, Progressive At-Risk Adjustment), which are differentiated by higher versus lower levels of problem behavior and relative change versus relative stability of the problem behavior trajectory. Classes with greater peer context behavior problems had typically poorer student-teacher relationships, greater parent-observed behavior problems, and lower reading and math skills at the end of first grade. Multiple child and family characteristics were differentially associated with class membership. (author abstract)

Resource Type:
Reports & Papers
Country:
United States

Related resources include summaries, versions, measures (instruments), or other resources in which the current document plays a part. Research products funded by the Office of Planning, Research, and Evaluation are related to their project records.

- You May Also Like

These resources share similarities with the current selection.

Behavior problem trajectories and first-grade cognitive ability and achievement skills: A latent growth curve analysis

Reports & Papers

Latent trajectories of learning- and teacher-context behavior problems across the primary school transition

Reports & Papers

Latent profiles of problem behavior within learning, peer, and teacher contexts: Identifying subgroups of children at academic risk across the preschool year

Reports & Papers
Release: 'v1.57.0' | Built: 2024-03-14 09:29:08 EDT