Abstract
The study investigated developmental trajectories of internalizing problems from kindergarten to fifth grade in young kindergarteners
versus older peers in kindergarten, as well as factors that may be attributed to such differential trajectories. Data on a
sample of 9,796 kindergarteners from the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study were analyzed using individual growth curve models.
Results revealed that the younger kindergarteners displayed more symptoms of internalizing problems than their older peers
at school entry and that such elevated levels of problems persisted into fifth grade. Protective factors included higher socioeconomic
status and favorable parental perceptions of child’s abilities to pay attention and solve problems. These findings are informative
for school-based early intervention efforts.
versus older peers in kindergarten, as well as factors that may be attributed to such differential trajectories. Data on a
sample of 9,796 kindergarteners from the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study were analyzed using individual growth curve models.
Results revealed that the younger kindergarteners displayed more symptoms of internalizing problems than their older peers
at school entry and that such elevated levels of problems persisted into fifth grade. Protective factors included higher socioeconomic
status and favorable parental perceptions of child’s abilities to pay attention and solve problems. These findings are informative
for school-based early intervention efforts.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Category Original Paper
- Pages 1-14
- DOI 10.1007/s12310-012-9077-x
- Authors
- Guang Zeng, Department of Curriculum, Instruction, Educational Administration and Research, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, 6300 Ocean Drive, FC 222, Unit 5818, Corpus Christi, TX 78412-5818, USA
- Pingfu Fu, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA
- Henry May, Consortium for Policy Research in Education, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Barbara Lopez, Division of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Nova Southeastern University, Ft. Lauderdale, FL, USA
- Lourdes Suarez-Morales, Center for Psychological Studies, Nova Southeastern University, Ft. Lauderdale, FL, USA
- Manuel C. Voelkle, Center for Lifespan Psychology, Max Planck Institute for Human Development, Berlin, Germany
- Chen-Pin Wang, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, UT Health Science Center, San Antonio, TX, USA
- Robert F. Boruch, Graduate School of Education, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Journal School Mental Health
- Online ISSN 1866-2633
- Print ISSN 1866-2625