Associations between behavioral/emotional difficulties in kindergarten children and the quality of their peer relationships.

Full Abstract

OBJECTIVE:
The aim of this study was to investigate the associations between children's difficulties (conduct problems, hyperactivity/impulsivity, and emotional symptoms) and peer victimization and rejection in kindergarten. For the assessment of children's difficulties, the authors used a multi-informant approach.

METHOD:
A total of 153 five-year-old children were interviewed (Berkeley Puppet Interview). Teachers and parents completed the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire. Teachers reported on peer victimization. Peer nominations (rejection and acceptance) were conducted in a subgroup of 92 children. Combining teacher, parent, and self-reports of children's difficulties, three components were established:
trait (degree of problems), informant differences resulting from perspective (self versus others), and context (kindergarten versus home).

RESULTS:
Children's difficulties were significantly associated with teacher- and self-reported victimization and peer rejection (r = 0.20-0.35), but not with peer acceptance. Conduct problems and emotional symptoms, but not hyperactivity/impulsivity, contributed independently to the variance of peer victimization and rejection. Perspective differences between children and adults according to hyperactivity/impulsivity also predicted peer rejection.

CONCLUSION:
Behavioral and emotional difficulties as well as a lack of self-awareness regarding hyperactive/impulsive behavior may place children at risk of peer victimization and rejection. Child psychiatric assessments and therapeutic strategies should thus take children's self-perception of symptoms and their peer relationships into account.

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Author information

Author/s: Perren, Sonja (S); von Wyl, Agnes (A); Stadelmann, Stephanie (S); Bürgin, Dieter (D); von Klitzing, Kai (K);

Affiliation: Jacobs Center for Productive Youth Development, University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland. perren(-atsign-)jacobscenter.unizh.ch

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Journal: Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2006-Jul; vol 45 (issue 7) : pp 867-76

Dates: Created 2006/07/11; Completed 2007/06/26;

PMID: 16832324, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 12/26/2008)

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Affective Symptoms - epidemiology
Child Behavior Disorders - epidemiology
Child, Preschool
Female
Humans
Interpersonal Relations

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