ERIC Number: EJ1457382
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2025
Pages: 21
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1040-9289
EISSN: EISSN-1556-6935
Exploring Links between Social Competence, Immigrant Background, and Children's Preschool Adjustment
Federica Zava; Stefania Sette; Giovanni Maria Vecchio; Fiorenzo Laghi; Emma Baumgartner; Robert J. Coplan
Early Education and Development, v36 n2 p343-363 2025
Research Findings: In the present study, we investigated the roles of children's social competence and immigrant background in the prediction of the quality of children's relationships with peers and teachers and school adjustment. Participants were N = 212 children (M[subscript age] = 58.32 months, SD = 10.72; n = 98 with an immigrant background) and their teachers (two per class). One teacher in each class assessed children's social competence and behavior problems, whereas the other rated the quality of their attachment relationships with the children and their adaptation to school. Social acceptance was assessed via peer sociometric nominations. Among the results, children with an immigrant background evidenced greater conflict and dependence in their relationships with teachers, poorer social acceptance, and less pleasure in school. Among children with an immigrant background, externalizing behaviors were associated with conflict in relationships with teachers, whereas internalizing behaviors were associated with dependence. Practice or Policy: The study highlights how social behaviors and immigrant background can affect the quality of attachment relationships with teachers in the preschool classroom.
Descriptors: Interpersonal Competence, Immigrants, Peer Relationship, Teacher Student Relationship, Student Adjustment, Young Children, Behavior Problems, Student Behavior, Early Childhood Education, Early Childhood Teachers, Foreign Countries, Psychological Patterns
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Early Childhood Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Italy
Identifiers - Assessments and Surveys: Student Teacher Relationship Scale
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A