Longitudinal predictors of school-age academic achievement: unique contributions of toddler-age aggression, oppositionality, inattention, and hyperactivity

J Abnorm Child Psychol. 2012 Nov;40(8):1289-300. doi: 10.1007/s10802-012-9639-2.

Abstract

This project examined the unique predictive validity of parent ratings of toddler-age aggression, oppositionality, inattention, and hyperactivity-impulsivity to academic achievement at school-age in a sample of 566 high-risk children and families. The study also investigated potential indirect effects of the Family Check-Up on school-age academic achievement through changes in child behavior problems. The results demonstrated that toddler-age aggression was most consistently associated with school-age academic achievement, albeit modestly. Moreover, findings showed that the intervention predicted greater decreases in aggression from ages 2-3 to 4-5 compared to controls. The results suggest that in high-risk toddler-aged children, aggression may be a more consistent predictor of school-age academic achievement than other externalizing dimensions, which has implications for early identification and efforts to promote children's adaptation.

MeSH terms

  • Adaptation, Physiological
  • Aggression*
  • Attention*
  • Child
  • Child Behavior Disorders / psychology
  • Child Development
  • Child, Preschool
  • Educational Status*
  • Female
  • Forecasting
  • Humans
  • Impulsive Behavior / psychology
  • Longitudinal Studies
  • Male
  • Parents
  • Risk