Student-teacher relationship quality moderates longitudinal associations between child temperament and behavior problems. 2022

Elizabeth Harvey, and Jean-Pascal Lemelin, and Michèle Déry
Département de Psychoéducation, Université de Sherbrooke, 2500 boul. de l'Université, Quebec J1K 2R1, Canada; Département d'Éducation, Université Sainte-Anne, 1695 Road 1, Church Point, Nova Scotia B0W 1M0, Canada. Electronic address: Elizabeth.harvey@usainteanne.ca.

Relatively few studies have focused on relational factors within the school environment that could moderate the associations between temperament and behavior problems. The purpose of this longitudinal study was to examine whether student-teacher relationship quality (i.e., Closeness, Conflict, and Dependency) moderated longitudinal associations between child temperament (i.e., Negative Affectivity, Surgency/Extraversion, and Effortful Control) and externalizing and internalizing problems. The participants were 744 elementary school students (mean age 8.4 years at study entry) followed over 3 years (four measurement times). Parents assessed their child's temperament at study entry (T1) and the children reported their self-perceptions of problems 3 years later (T4). Student-teacher relationship quality was constructed as a latent variable based on ratings from three different teachers over 3 years (T1, T2, T3). Latent moderated structural equations revealed that a low level of Surgency/Extraversion was associated with less internalizing problems but only for children experiencing a high level of Closeness with their teachers. A high level of Negative Affectivity was associated with more internalizing problems, but only for children experiencing a high level of Conflict or a high level of Dependency with their teachers. Student-teacher relationship quality did not moderate the associations between temperament and externalizing problems. Improving student-teacher relationship quality through focused interventions thus represents a useful strategy.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008137 Longitudinal Studies Studies in which variables relating to an individual or group of individuals are assessed over a period of time. Bogalusa Heart Study,California Teachers Study,Framingham Heart Study,Jackson Heart Study,Longitudinal Survey,Tuskegee Syphilis Study,Bogalusa Heart Studies,California Teachers Studies,Framingham Heart Studies,Heart Studies, Bogalusa,Heart Studies, Framingham,Heart Studies, Jackson,Heart Study, Bogalusa,Heart Study, Framingham,Heart Study, Jackson,Jackson Heart Studies,Longitudinal Study,Longitudinal Surveys,Studies, Bogalusa Heart,Studies, California Teachers,Studies, Jackson Heart,Studies, Longitudinal,Study, Bogalusa Heart,Study, California Teachers,Study, Longitudinal,Survey, Longitudinal,Surveys, Longitudinal,Syphilis Studies, Tuskegee,Syphilis Study, Tuskegee,Teachers Studies, California,Teachers Study, California,Tuskegee Syphilis Studies
D002648 Child A person 6 to 12 years of age. An individual 2 to 5 years old is CHILD, PRESCHOOL. Children
D002652 Child Behavior Any observable response or action of a child from 24 months through 12 years of age. For neonates or children younger than 24 months, INFANT BEHAVIOR is available. Behavior, Child
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000066553 Problem Behavior Troublesome or disruptive behavioral displays. Behavioral Problem,Disruptive Behavior,Dysfunctional Behavior, Psychology,Behavior, Disruptive,Behavior, Problem,Behavior, Psychology Dysfunctional,Behavioral Problems,Behaviors, Disruptive,Behaviors, Problem,Behaviors, Psychology Dysfunctional,Disruptive Behaviors,Dysfunctional Behaviors, Psychology,Problem Behaviors,Problem, Behavioral,Problems, Behavioral,Psychology Dysfunctional Behavior,Psychology Dysfunctional Behaviors
D000070777 School Teachers Members of staff responsible for TEACHING students in a school from pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade. Elementary School Teachers,High School Teachers,Middle School Teachers,Pre-School Teachers,Elementary School Teacher,High School Teacher,Middle School Teacher,Pre School Teachers,Pre-School Teacher,School Teacher,School Teacher, Elementary,School Teacher, High,School Teacher, Middle,School Teachers, Elementary,School Teachers, High,School Teachers, Middle,Teacher, Elementary School,Teacher, High School,Teacher, Middle School,Teacher, Pre-School,Teacher, School,Teachers, Elementary School,Teachers, High School,Teachers, Middle School,Teachers, Pre-School,Teachers, School
D013334 Students Individuals enrolled in a school or formal educational program. School Enrollment,Enrollment, School,Enrollments, School,School Enrollments,Student
D013694 Temperament Predisposition to react to one's environment in a certain way; usually refers to mood changes. Temperaments

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