Children with reading difficulty experience stress in school that may put them at risk of negative socio-emotional adjustment involving externalizing or internalizing patterns. It is unclear what factors influence some children to experience externalizing patterns and others internalizing patterns. This study investigated the influences of the age…

A number of studies report that from the first years of life, preterm children have more difficulty self-regulating and communicating in their social group. If these children show signs of difficulty adjusting socially, the question then is whether or not these problems continue and persist over time. The objective is to observe the combined…

This study examined relations of social sensitivity to social, school, and psychological adjustment in rural Chinese, urban Chinese, and Canadian children. Participants were 4th to 6th grade students (M[subscript age] = 11 years) in China (n = 593 and 443 for the rural and urban samples) and Canada (n = 325). A self-report measure of social…

This study explored how nonpromotional school changes, a potentially major event for children, were associated with 3 forms of social maladjustment: isolation/withdrawal, affiliation with maladjusted peers, and aggression toward peers. Given that school mobility frequently co-occurs with family transitions, the moderating role of these transitions…

We tested the criterion-related validity and potential bias of two measures of pupils' academic achievement: the Teacher Rating Scale (TRS) and the Mathematics and Literacy Achievement Tests (MLTs). These measures are representative of assessment methods largely used in the elementary school. The aims were: (1) to verify the extent to which TRS…

Shyness may play a significant role in children's socio-emotional and cognitive competence in the classroom. This qualitative study investigated elementary school teachers' perceptions of the concept of shyness in their students. In particular, we explored teachers' perceptions regarding the role that gender plays in shy children's behaviours, and…

Several authors consider high and frequent conflicts between friends during childhood as a serious risk for subsequent conduct problems such as generalized physical aggression toward others (e.g., Kupersmidt, Burchinal, & Patterson, 1995; Sebanc, 2003). Although it seems logical to assume that friendship conflict could have some negative…

This study examined social and psychological adjustment of immigrant and Canadian-born Chinese children in Canada. Participants included a sample of elementary school children (N = 356, M age = 11 years). Data on social functioning, peer relationships, school-related social competence, perceived self-worth, and loneliness were collected from peer…

Assessed the cross-sex similarity of behavioral disturbance dimensions as measured by the Bristol Social Adjustment Guides (BSAG) using a sample of 2,527 Ontario schoolchildren. Results confirmed the cross-sex equivalence in the factor structure and support the use of the BSAG's under- and overreaction scales as indicators of maladjustment. (JAC)

This study compared the academic and social development of students who entered grade 1 very early (5:6 years or 5:7 years), in the mid range (5:8 to 6:3 years), and very late (6:4 years or older). The purpose of the study was to explore the hypothesis that the early grade 1 entrants would have continuing problems in both academic and social…