Parental Status as Risk Protection From Early Childhood Conduct Disturbances: National Growth Mixture Models

• In Event: Revisiting Sociocultural Influences in Assessment and Student Performance: Challenges and Opportunities

Abstract

This study focuses on salient features of the family microsystem related to the formation of children's early conduct disturbances through the years covering preschool through first grade. We further a line of research highlighting the protective agency of family status factors through a comprehensive study of the unobserved longitudinal subpopulations defining common change patterns throughout early childhood education, specifically for those most at risk. Using a large, nationally representative sample of Head Start participants, we find distinct latent trajectories of aggressive and attention seeking behavior. Membership in these subpopulations was associated with independent distal outcomes at the close of first grade. Moreover, familial factors served significantly to reduce the risk of child membership subpopulations marked by emergent conduct disturbances.

Authors

• Paul A. McDermott, University of Pennsylvania

• Samuel Rikoon, Educational Testing Service

• Michael Rovine, The Pennsylvania State University

• Marley Watkins, Baylor University

• Clare Irwin, Education Development Center, Inc.

• Roland Reyes