Children Behavioral Functioning Research Articles

Emotional, Social, and Behavioral Functioning of Children With Sickle Cell Disease and Comparison Peers.

This research examined the emotional, social, and behavioral functioning of children with sickle cell disease (SCD) and classroom comparison peers from the perspective of primary and secondary caregivers. It was hypothesized that children with SCD would have more internalizing (emotional) and social problems and fewer externalizing (behavioral) problems than comparison peers. Caregivers of 70 children with SCD and 67 comparison peers completed the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) during visits to the children's homes. Relative to comparison peers, children with SCD were perceived by primary caregivers as having more total and internalizing problems and less total competence. Additionally, significantly more children with SCD exceeded clinical cutoffs on the CBCL. While caregivers of children with SCD perceive these children to be at a slightly elevated risk for problems across multiple domains, a significant number of children with SCD have problems in the clinical range. The authors recommend that vigorous screening programs for mental health problems should be included in the routine care of children with SCD, and programs of psychosocial intervention research should be implemented to ameliorate problems for the children at greatest risk.

Methodological Issues in Assessing the Effects of Maltreatment Characteristics on Behavioral Adjustment in Maltreated Children

This paper explored methodological issues in examining the impact of maltreatment characteristics on behavioral adjustment in a sample of maltreated school-age children. Different approaches to assessing the effects of maltreatment type were used to determine whether maltreatment characteristics differed by type of maltreatment and whether relationships between maltreatment characteristics and child behavioral functioning differed according to type of maltreatment. Results revealed several differences among the three types of maltreatment subgroups (physical abuse, neglect, and sexual abuse) on characteristics of maltreatment experiences. Correlations between maltreatment characteristics and outcome measures for the sample as a whole obscured findings that relationships were often specific to particular types of maltreatment. Developing generic definitions for maltreatment characteristics applicable to all forms of maltreatment is difficult because of differences in meaning across maltreatment types. Findings suggest that the role of maltreatment characteristics in children's behavioral functioning should be examined separately for each form of maltreatment.

Measures of Child Emotional and Behavioral Strengths and Family Functioning: A Preliminary Report on the Reliability and Validity of their Spanish Translations

There is a documented need for reliable and valid Spanish-translated child mental health assessment tools. Although the psychometric properties of some of the more commonly used Spanish translations have been demonstrated, many instruments that were developed, tested, and normed in English are being Spanish-translated and used without further psychometric investigation. The current study found preliminary support for the internal consistency and convergent validity of the Spanish-translated Family Assessment Device and Behavioral and Emotional Rating Scale using data from the national evaluation of the Comprehensive Community Mental Health Service for Children and Their Families Program. A discussion of these findings as they relate to the psychometric properties of the English versions is included. Finally, next steps for more in-depth psychometric analyses are outlined.

Long-term sequelae in children after cerebellar astrocytoma surgery.

To study long-term effects on neurologic, neuropsychological, and behavioral functioning in children treated for cerebellar pilocytic astrocytoma (CPA) without additional radio- and chemotherapy. The authors assessed speech, language, nonverbal intelligence, attention, memory, executive skills, and visual (-spatial) functions in a consecutive series of 23 children. Neurologic and neuropsychological follow-up ranged from 1 year to 8 years and 10 months after resection. Long-term sequelae in the investigated domains were found in all children. Apraxia, motor neglect, and dysarthric features, as well as language, sustained attention, visual-spatial, executive, memory, and behavioral problems, were observed in various combinations and to different degrees. No clear pattern of neurocognitive disturbances could be discerned in this group. In addition, significant relationships were revealed between severity of preoperative hydrocephalus and visual-spatial skills. The high percentage of children who needed special education reflects the severity of the impairments. Despite the current opinion of a good quality of life after CPA treatment, careful long-term neurocognitive follow-up is needed in order to inform parents and teachers about the behavioral and cognitive sequelae and to contribute to timely social and educational intervention.

Behavioral and Emotional Rating Scale: Two Studies of Convergent Validity

As the field of mental health services shifts its focus to early intervention, the need to develop valid and reliable measures of young children's behavioral functioning is clear. Traditional assessment instruments have focused on deficits, problems, and pathologies to the exclusion of strengths and competencies. However, assessing child strengths provides parents, direct service providers, and educators with a more holistic view of the child's functioning and an understanding of skills from which individualized treatment and education plans may be written. The Behavioral and Emotional Rating Scale (BERS; Epstein & Sharma, 1998) is a strength-based instrument designed to identify children's behavioral and emotional strengths. The psychometrics of the BERS has been demonstrated through several studies; however, the focus has mainly been on older age students. We sought to assess the convergent validity of the BERS with kindergarten children. The results of these two studies provide further support of the psychometric characteristics of the BERS and indicate its appropriateness with young children.

Social, emotional, and behavioral functioning of children with hemophilia.

This study examines the social, emotional, and behavioral functioning of children with hemophilia. Data were collected in the homes and schools of 40 boys with hemophilia and 40 comparison boys of the same race and age. Data on social, emotional, and behavioral functioning were collected from teachers, classmates, parents, and the participants. Children with hemophilia scored comparably with comparison peers in all areas of social functioning but reported more difficulties with emotional well-being, including more depressive symptomatology and lower self-perceptions. Parent report also indicated more difficulties with emotional well-being. Parents did not report significant differences in externalizing behavior problems. In conclusion, children with hemophilia were not found to be at increased risk of social or behavioral difficulties. However, both children with hemophilia and their parents identified more difficulties with emotional well-being. Nevertheless, approximately all mean scores for both groups remained within the normal range.

Evaluation of an Intervention for Children Experiencing Homelessness

This study evaluated a two-part intervention provided during a summer program for children experiencing homelessness. First, teachers and the mental health team implemented a behavior management system to reinforce positive classroom behaviors. Second, a team of undergraduate and graduate students delivered mental health promotion services during classroom and small group activities. Mothers' and teachers' ratings indicated that the children's emotional and behavioral functioning was within normal limits and did not change over the course of the program. Mothers reported higher than normal levels of family distress. Lower school achievement was related to poor behavioral and emotional functioning and attrition. Strategies to ensure that “low achievers” and children with behavior problems do not drop out of summer programs need to be developed; shelters or schools may be optimal settings for providing family-focused interventions for this population.

Special Education Eligibility: Developmental Precursors over the First Three Years of Life

From the National Institute of Child Health and Development (NICHD) Study of Early Child Care sample, two groups of children at age 36 months were examined—children identified by medical professionals as needing special services and children eligible for special services based on developmental assessments. Demographic information, children's behavioral functioning, mothers' psychological functioning, mother-child interactions, and quality of the home environment were examined. Early home environment and later behavior problems and children's health problems significantly contributed to the prediction model for membership in the group identified by medical professionals. Early home environment and socioeconomic status (SES) significantly contributed to the prediction model for the group identified based on developmental assessments. Results have implications for efforts to screen and detect young children likely to benefit from special education services.

A longitudinal analysis of patterns of adjustment following peer victimization.

This study examined the effects of being victimized by peers on children's behavioral, social, emotional, and academic functioning. We assessed an ethnically diverse sample of 2,064 first, second, and fourth graders and followed them over 2 years, locating 1,469 of the participants at the follow-up. Correlation and partial correlation analyses revealed that prior victimization predicted externalizing, internalizing, and social problems 2 years later for the sample as a whole. However, not all victimized children experienced the same types of outcomes; instead, there was heterogeneity in children's responses to victimization. Using cluster analysis, we identified eight outcome patterns that represented different patterns of functioning. These were labeled as externalizing, internalizing, symptomatic, popular, disliked, absent, low achieving, and high achieving. Discriminant function analyses revealed that the symptomatic, externalizing, and disliked patterns were systematically related to victimization. Moreover, significant gender and age differences in the severity of effects were obtained. The discussion highlights the complexity of victimization effects.

The effects of tobacco exposure on children's behavioral and cognitive functioning:: Implications for clinical and public health policy and future research

A growing body of literature indicates that maternal smoking during pregnancy is associated with neurotoxic effects on children. Both animal model studies and human epidemiologic studies demonstrate similar effects in terms of increased activity, decreased attention, and diminished intellectual abilities. Epidemiologic studies also suggest that prenatal tobacco exposure is associated with higher rates of behavior problems and school failure. These findings are explored and their implications for child health policy and practice, and for research, are discussed.

Investigating the validity of the Draw-A-Person: Screening Procedure for Emotional Disturbance: a measurement validation study with high-risk youth.

This validity study examined the extent to which the Draw-A-Person: Screening Procedure for Emotional Disturbance (DAP:SPED; J. A. Naglieri, T. J. McNeish, & A. N. Bardos, 1991) was a significant predictor of behavioral functioning within a clinical sample of 68 latency-age children (6-12 years old) receiving counseling services at outpatient and residential treatment facilities. Study results showed that the total DAP:SPED (man, woman, and self scores summed) was a significant predictor in explaining variation in internalizing behavioral disturbance. Specifically, the DAP:SPED remained a moderate strength predictor of internalizing behavioral disturbance after controlling for the Child and Adolescent Adjustment Profile parent-report behavioral measure. Findings lend preliminary support to the DAP:SPED's validity in providing assessment information about child behavioral functioning. Continued validation investigation along these lines is recommended.

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Cancer is the second most common cause of death during the reproductive years, complicating approximately 1/1000 pregnancies. The occurrence of cancer during gestation is likely to increase as a result of a woman's tendency to delay childbearing. Improved diagnostic techniques for malignancies increases detection of cancer during pregnancy. Malignant conditions during gestation are believed to be associated with an increase in poor perinatal and fetal outcomes that are often due to maternal treatment. Physicians should weigh the benefits of treatment against the risks of fetal exposure. To date, most reports have focused on morphologic observations made very close to the time of delivery with little data collected on children's long-term neurodevelopment following in utero exposure to malignancy and treatment. Because the brain differentiates throughout pregnancy and in early postnatal life, damage may occur even after first trimester exposure. The possible delayed effects of treatment on a child's neurological, intellectual and behavioural functioning have never been systematically evaluated. The goal of this report was to summarize all related issues into one review to facilitate both practitioners’ and patients’ access to known data on fetal risks and safety. © 2001 Cancer Research Campaign http://www.bjcancer.com

Neurodevelopment of children exposed in utero to treatment of maternal malignancy.

Cancer is the second most common cause of death during the reproductive years, complicating approximately 1/1000 pregnancies. The occurrence of cancer during gestation is likely to increase as a result of a woman's tendency to delay childbearing. Improved diagnostic techniques for malignancies increases detection of cancer during pregnancy. Malignant conditions during gestation are believed to be associated with an increase in poor perinatal and fetal outcomes that are often due to maternal treatment. Physicians should weigh the benefits of treatment against the risks of fetal exposure. To date, most reports have focused on morphologic observations made very close to the time of delivery with little data collected on children's long-term neurodevelopment following in utero exposure to malignancy and treatment. Because the brain differentiates throughout pregnancy and in early postnatal life, damage may occur even after first trimester exposure. The possible delayed effects of treatment on a child's neurological, intellectual and behavioural functioning have never been systematically evaluated. The goal of this report was to summarize all related issues into one review to facilitate both practitioners' and patients' access to known data on fetal risks and safety. © 2001 Cancer Research Campaign http://www.bjcancer.com

Social, emotional, and behavioral functioning of children with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis.

To investigate the hypothesis that children with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA) would have more social and emotional problems than case-control classmates. Using a case-control design, children with JRA (n = 74), ages 8-14, were compared with case-control classmates (n = 74). Peer relationships, emotional well-being, and behavior, based on peer-, teacher-, parent-, and self-report scores on common measures, were compared using analysis of variance. Relative to case-control classmates, children with JRA were similar on all measures of social functioning and behavior. Mothers reported more internalizing symptoms in the child with JRA, but child self reports and father reports showed no differences. Scores on all standardized measures were in the normal range for both the JRA and the case-control groups. Children with JRA were remarkably similar to case-control children on measures of social functioning, emotional well-being, and behavior. These findings are not supportive of disability/stress models of chronic illness in childhood and suggest considerable psychological hardiness among children with JRA.

Analyzing longitudinal rating data: A three-level hierarchical linear model

Using generalizability theory as a guide, this study discusses statistical problems and strategies of analyzing rating data involving multiple raters--a common type of data issue frequently encountered in social work evaluations. To disentangle raters' bias from clients' true change, the study shows the importance of looking into the multifaceted structure of measurement error. To analyze data containing nonnegligible variability associated with raters, this study proposes using a three-level hierarchical linear model. It demonstrates that the three-level model produces a better model fit to the data, smaller sample residual, and more accurate significance testing than the popular two-level model when analyzing rating data with nonnegligible raters' influences. Key words: generalizability; hierarchial linear model; data; multiple raters; seriously emotionally disturbed children Monitoring client progress and evaluating the effectiveness of a program intervention are of central interest to social work research. Studies with these objectives often involve designs and collection of subjective rating data. Analyzing such data, however, is not as straightforward as investigators may wish. In a inquiry, research questions often address the change of client outcomes over time. Because change is inevitably a function of measurement, disentangling raters' bias from the clients' true change is crucial to most data analyses. This article discusses statistical problems and strategies in analyzing one type of rating data, namely, subjective ratings made by multiple raters at two or more time points. By this definition, we exclude the methodologically less complicated case of self-administered data from consideration. Examples of multiple-rater data include teachers' and parents' ratings of children's behavioral functioning, case workers' and service consumers' ratings on a program outcome, and so forth. Longitudinal rating data are likely to be collected by more than one rater. In a study, keeping track of study participants over time is expensive. By the same token, using a group of same raters (interviewers) requires additional resources that may be practically infeasible. Just like the attrition of study participants, raters may change jobs and make themselves no longer a part of the data-collection team. During the past two decades, the number of studies has grown at a fast pace, primarily because more social worker-researchers have recognized the importance and advantages of a dynamic inquiry. (We searched on the keyword longitudinal from the database Social Work Abstracts between 1977 and 1997, and found 542 journal articles in total. Among these articles, 191 [or more than one third] were published during the past seven years. Longitudinal studies often were used in the areas of program evaluations, such as assessment of programs preventing drug and alcohol abuse, mental health treatment services, welfare, foster care, and adoption programs; and correlates studies, such as factors associated with poverty, homelessness, children's aggressive behaviors, teenage pregnancy, living arrangement and service use for elderly people, HIV epidemic, and so forth.) However, the design of such studies has not received equally important attention. A typical scenario is the application of an instrument that was primarily designed for a cross-sectional study to other time points. Although the instrument has proven to be valid and reliable at a static time point, its usefulness to dynamic inquiry remains questionable. By doing so, the researcher may underestimate the importance of choosing the optimal number of raters and time points to achieve maximum generalizability. In this study we addressed the following questions: How can researchers analyze rating data containing multiple sources of measurement error? …

PAEDIATRICS SELECTIONPediatrics (1999) R. B. Noll et al. Social, emotional and behavioural functioning of children with cancer. Vol. 103, No. 1, pp. 71–78.

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Effects of Single-Sex and Coeducational Secondary Schooling on Children's Academic Achievement

Using prospective data from an 18-year longitudinal study of a birth cohort of 657 New Zealand children, this paper examines the effects of single-sex and coeducational secondary schooling on children's academic achievement. This analysis showed a pervasive tendency for children attending single-sex schools to have greater success in the School Certificate examinations, higher Burt reading scores, greater school retention, less likelihood of leaving school without qualifications, and less exposure to unemployment than children attending coeducational schools. However, a substantial amount of this association was explained by pre-entry differences in children's academic, behavioural, social, and family functioning. None the less, even after control for selection processes, children attending single-sex schools tended to perform better than their coeducated peers across a number of educational outcomes. Possible explanations for these differences are considered, including school gender composition, school climate and traditions, and possible inadequate control for selection and confounding factors.

Social, emotional, and behavioral functioning of children with cancer.

It was hypothesized that children with cancer would have more social problems and difficulties with emotional well-being than case control, same race/gender, similarly aged classmates. Using a case controlled design, children with any type of cancer requiring chemotherapy except brain tumors (n = 76), currently receiving chemotherapy, ages 8 to 15, were compared with case control classroom peers (n = 76). Peer relationships, emotional well-being, and behavior were evaluated based on peer, teacher, parent, and self-report, and were compared using analysis of variance and structural equation modeling. Relative to case controls, children with cancer were perceived by teachers as being more sociable; by teachers and peers as being less aggressive; and by peers as having greater social acceptance. Measures of depression, anxiety, loneliness, and self-concept showed no significant differences, except children with cancer reported significantly lower satisfaction with current athletic competence. There were also no significant differences in mother or father perceptions of behavioral problems, emotional well-being, or social functioning. Scores on all standardized measures were in the normal range for both groups. Comparisons of the correlation matrices of children with cancer and to the correlation matrix of the comparison children using structural equation modeling suggested they were not significantly different. Children with cancer currently receiving chemotherapy were remarkably similar to case controls on measures of emotional well-being and better on several dimensions of social functioning. These findings are not supportive of disability/stress models of childhood chronic illness and suggest considerable psychologic hardiness.

Mother and teacher reports of behaviour and perceived self-competence of children with hydrocephalus.

The present study was designed to explore the social and behavioural functioning of children with hydrocephalus. The sample comprised 14 children with hydrocephalus (without spina bifida) and 14 controls with no history of neurological impairment matched for age and gender. Children were asked to report on their self-perceptions of academic and physical competence and on peer and maternal acceptance. In addition, mothers and teachers provided reports of the behavioural adjustment of both groups and mothers completed a questionnaire measuring locus of control orientation. Mothers of children with hydrocephalus also responded to a series of open-ended questions, their thoughts and feelings about the experience of having a child with hydrocephalus. Analyses of the data revealed that there was no difference in the self-perceptions of the two groups of children, although there was a trend for children with hydrocephalus to rate themselves as being lower in physical competence. There was a clear association between the presence of hydrocephalus and behaviour problems, with evidence of internalising and externalising problems being evident in the reports of both mothers and teachers, although the extent of agreement between the two informants was low. Maternal locus of control was related to behaviour problems in children with hydrocephalus, with a more external orientation being related to more behaviour problems. It is suggested that future researchers need to 1) focus on children's behaviour in context, 2) solicit data from a range of informants and 3) consider the complex transactions between biological and psychological factors to gain a fuller understanding of how hydrocephalus shapes children's development.

The Effects of Violence in the Home on Children's Emotional, Behavioral, and Social Functioning

Violence is a pervasive force in the lives of children in the United States; too often children have been victims of violence or witnesses to violence in their own homes. Although there is broad acknowledgment that these children are at risk for psychological, behavioral, and social maladjustment, the empirical basis for this has not always been recognized. This article provides a review and summary of the empirical research literature related to the question What effects does violence in the home have on children's emotional, behavioral, and social functioning? The evidence from these studies appears to support the conclusion that children who are victims or witnesses to violence in the home are at risk for experiencing both behavioral and emotional problems and somewhat at risk for impaired social functioning. Findings from experimental research are discussed in the context of additional data sources and considerations for future research.