The reciprocal relations between teachers' perceptions of children's behavior problems and teacher-child relationships in the first preschool year

J Genet Psychol. 2011 Apr-Jun;172(2):176-98. doi: 10.1080/00221325.2010.528077.

Abstract

To examine the reciprocal relations between teacher-child relationships and children's behavior problems, the authors analyzed cross-lagged longitudinal data on teacher-child relationships and children's internalizing and externalizing problems using a structural equation modeling approach. The homeroom teachers of 105 first-year preschoolers aged 2-3 years filled in the Student-Teacher Relationship Scale and the Child Behavior Checklist/2-3, first at 3 months after the children's preschool entrance and then at the end of the first preschool year. Results showed significant cross-wave reciprocal relations between externalizing problems and teacher-child conflict and significant cross-wave relation from early internalizing problems to later teacher-child conflict. However, the cross-wave associations between internalizing and externalizing problems and teacher-child closeness were not significant.

MeSH terms

  • Child Behavior Disorders / diagnosis*
  • Child Behavior Disorders / psychology
  • Child, Preschool
  • Conflict, Psychological
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Internal-External Control
  • Interpersonal Relations*
  • Judgment*
  • Longitudinal Studies
  • Male
  • Models, Psychological
  • Personality Assessment
  • Schools, Nursery*
  • Socialization
  • Teaching*