School Performance Problems Research Articles

Long COVID in Children: A Multidisciplinary Review.

Long COVID syndrome has emerged as a long-lasting consequence of acute SARS-CoV-2 infection in adults. In addition, children may be affected by Long COVID, with potential clinical issues in different fields, including problems in school performance and daily activities. Yet, the pathophysiologic bases of Long COVID in children are largely unknown, and it is difficult to predict who will develop the syndrome. In this multidisciplinary clinical review, we summarise the latest scientific data regarding Long COVID and its impact on children. Special attention is given to diagnostic tests, in order to help the physicians to find potential disease markers and quantify impairment. Specifically, we assess the respiratory, upper airways, cardiac, neurologic and motor and psychological aspects. Finally, we also propose a multidisciplinary clinical approach.

School Dropout in Times of Virtual Revolution

The COVID 19 pandemic has managed to paralyze the world economies in all areas, especially in the educational system, giving birth to virtual tools, bringing as a consequence an increase in school dropouts. In addition, the objective of the article is a literature review to provide definitions of school dropout and the factors that cause school dropout in public and private HEIs worldwide. Therefore, the bibliographic literature review was carried out with the qualitative methodology taking into account the bibliographic, historical-logical, analytical, synthetic, and descriptive methods, the development of the literature review, it is necessary to extract information from various sources such as Scopus, Gale academic, Science Direct, Ebsco, and Mendeley. The Prisma strategy was also used as a basis. Among the factors, we can point out: the socio-economic conditions of the students, the effects of the COVID 19 pandemic, school performance problems, and the inadequate methodology of the teacher. In summary, it can be mentioned that programs and protocols should be carried out to care for students who present these problems, the commitment of the entire educational community is required in a more active way in the socio-emotional aspect, empathy, resilience, among other things.

Zur nichtkonsensuellen Weiterleitung pers\xf6nlicher erotischer Fotos an Schulen

ZusammenfassungHintergrundNeben Chancen bringen Internet und digitale Medien für Kinder und Jugendliche auch Risiken mit sich. Ein solches stellen Fälle dar, bei denen persönliche erotische Fotos von Schüler:innen gegen deren Willen weiterverbreitet werden. Für Betroffene können die psychosozialen Konsequenzen gravierend sein.Ziel der ArbeitMit der vorliegenden Arbeit sollen Prävalenz von und Umgang mit der nichteinvernehmlichen Weiterleitung persönlicher erotischer Fotos unter Schüler:innen an Schulen in Schleswig-Holstein erhoben werden.MethodeVom 25.04. bis zum 07.06.2019 wurden die Schulleitungen von weiterführenden Schulen mittels eines Onlinekurzfragebogens sowohl zum Vorkommen nichtkonsensueller Fotoweiterleitung an den jeweiligen Schulen befragt als auch zu ergriffenen Maßnahmen, Folgen für die betroffenen Schüler:innen und Konsequenzen für diejenigen, die die Fotos versendet haben. Die Angaben von 74 Schulleitungen konnten in die Datenanalyse aufgenommen werden.ErgebnisseAn mehr als zwei Dritteln der Schulen wurde den Schulleitungen mindestens ein Fall von nichtkonsensueller Fotoweiterleitung bekannt. Ergriffene Maßnahmen waren zumeist die Information der Eltern aller Beteiligten und ein „angeleiteter Austausch“ zwischen den beteiligten Schüler:innen. Als Folgen für die betroffenen Schüler:innen wurden v. a. sozialer Rückzug, psychisches Leiden, schulische Leistungsprobleme und Erfahrungen mit Cybermobbing/-bullying berichtet. In acht Fällen verließen betroffene Schüler:innen die Schule.DiskussionNichtkonsensuelle Fotoweiterleitung an Schulen ist ein Problem erheblichen Ausmaßes. Zeitgemäße spezifische Präventionsmaßnahmen sind dringend erforderlich.

Breastfeeding in Pediatric Acute-Onset Neuropsychiatric Syndrome: An Italian Observational Study.

Objective: Pediatric acute-onset neuropsychiatric syndrome (PANS) is a condition defined by sudden onset of obsessive–compulsive symptoms and/or severe eating restrictions, along with at least two other cognitive, behavioral, or neurological symptoms. Its pathogenesis is unknown but it seems triggered by infections, metabolic disturbances, and other inflammatory reactions. PANS represents a neurodevelopmental problem and infant feeding can play a role. Breast milk is the ideal food for infants and influences children's brain, cognitive, and socio-emotional development.Methods: We enrolled 52 children diagnosed with PANS. We interviewed their parents in order to investigate perinatal history, infant feeding, neurologic development, and confounding factors like socio-economic status and region of origin. We subgrouped PANS patients into three subsets: those who only received human milk (HMO), those who only received infant formula, and those who received mixed feeding.Results: The cohort is composed of 78.9% males, with a median age of 11 years (range 7–17). We found some neurodevelopmental problems (13.5%): walking disorders, ASD, ADHD, oppositional attitude, and delayed psychomotor development. We found scholar performance deficits (25%), including language problems like dysgraphia, dyslexia, and dyscalculia. The achievement of some milestones in the development of the infant is affected in 73.1% of cases. Breastfeeding is not homogeneously practiced in Italy because of social, economic, and cultural phenomena. The richest and the poorest families (100%) in the sample choose breastfeeding, probably with a different approach and for different reasons (awareness or need). In the group of PANS patients fed with HMO, compared to the rest of the patients, we registered fewer cases of growth problems (0 vs. 12.9%; p = 0.14), school performance problems or the need for school support (19.1% vs. 29%; p = 0.42), and a delay in the age of babbling/speaking (range 4–20 vs. 7–36 months; p = 0.066).Conclusion: This is the first study that investigates the role of breastfeeding in the development of PANS. Promoting breastfeeding is important in the general population and also in PANS patients because it has an important social and global health impact, also during adult life. Further studies with a bigger population are needed to investigate the mechanisms underlying PANS and the role that breastfeeding may play in their short- and long-term neurodevelopment.

Záleží na bydlení? Vztah nekvalitního bydlení a školních problémů dětí v chudých českých domácnostech

This paper analyses the relationship between inadequate housing and the school performance of children from poor Czech households. It shows that children (ages 7-12) from low-income households (defined as those with up to 2.4 times the minimum living income) have higher chances of serious problems in school performance if they live in unstable or nonresidential housing. The effects of housing instability and non-residential housing among children from low-income households are significant and substantial even when controlling for parents' educational attainment and labour activity, family structure (e.g. single parent etc.), household size, and the child's age. The effects of other housing problems are significant only in their extreme forms (overcrowdedness) or when combined with other housing problems (the housing cost burden). These findings are used to examine whether the Czech Social Housing Act currently under discussion is needed to help poor families with children and whether it has adequately defined its target group if it is to protect Czech children from the negative effects of inadequate housing.

Empirische Arbeit: „Er tut sich einfach schwer.“. Eine gesprächsanalytische Untersuchung zur Mitteilung von Leistungsproblemen in Elterngesprächen

Gesprache zwischen Eltern und Lehrpersonen stellen ein empirisches Forschungsdesiderat dar. Im Beitrag wird auf der Grundlage von Audioaufnahmen von Elternsprechtagsgesprachen ein spezifisches Handlungsproblem genauer betrachtet. Wir fragen danach, wie Leistungsprobleme in Elternsprechtagsgesprachen von den Interagierenden thematisiert werden. Es werden zwei Varianten der Problemmitteilung durch Lehrpersonen untersucht und gezeigt, wie die Schulprobleme des Kindes sprachlich verhandelt und welche Losungen dabei vorgeschlagen werden. Der Beitrag beruht auf einer interdisziplinaren Zusammenarbeit: Das Forschungsdesign und die Datenanalyse folgen ethnomethodologischen Theorietraditionen. Bei der Interpretation und Theoretisierung des Datenmaterials werden sprach- und erziehungswissenschaftliche Perspektiven verknupft. Es wird gezeigt, wie in der Interaktion Leistungsprobleme ungenau beschrieben werden und die Entstehung, aber auch die Problemlosung einseitig auf der Seite der Schulerinnen und Schuler verortet wird.

Computer game misuse and addiction of adolescents in a clinically referred study sample

BackgroundActually it remains unclear whether specific psychiatric disorders, especially emotional disorders and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), may be meaningful in the pathogenesis of computer game misuse. ObjectiveIn this clinical study with adolescent psychiatric patients we expected a moderate to strong correlation between computer game misuse and emotional, conduct and peer problems, as well as symptoms of ADHD. Method183 patients (14.9 ± 1.5 years) from a child and adolescent psychiatric clinic were assessed for computer game misuse or addiction using the CSV-S scale in order to distinguish between regular and excessive computer gaming. The Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) was used to screen for actual emotional and behavioral difficulties. ResultsWithin the patients' group with problematic computer gaming especially male patients with the highest addiction score spent significantly more time on computer gaming and presented more school performance problems as well as other comorbidities. Excessive gaming correlated significantly with conduct and emotional problems. No specific psychiatric disorders correlated to computer game misuse or addiction. ConclusionMisuse or addiction of computer games in psychiatric patients seems to be related to an increased rate of conduct and emotional problems but related specific psychiatric diagnoses could not be identified.

Efficacy of narrative exposure therapy in the treatment of children and adolescent patients with posttraumatic stress disorder: a systematic review protocol

Review question/objective The objective of this review is to identify the efficacy of narrative exposure therapy in the treatment of children and adolescent patients with posttraumatic stress disorder. Background The most prominent disorder related to traumatic experiences is posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) that has specific symptoms which occur in response to trauma exposure as determined by the Diagnostic Staticall Manual (DSM). Among individuals exposed to trauma, approximately 25% to 30% develop PTSD with the rate of the disorder depending on the experience of trauma.1 PTSD is often caused by traumatic events like sexual abuse, physical maltreatment, car accidents, criminal attacks, bombings, rape or torture.2 It has been estimated that most Americans (81.7%) will be exposed to a trauma during their lifetime3 and 6.8% will meet criteria for PTSD at some point in their lives.4 Epidemiologic community surveys in war-torn areas found PTSD point prevalence rates between 15% and 50% among different refugee populations.5 Studies have suggested functional impairment occurs in traumatized children including problems with cognitive and school performance. A survey on trauma-related impairment in children in Sri Lanka showed that 25% of the severe trauma experienced children met the criteria for a diagnosis of PTSD. The traumatized children reported problems with their daily life such as problems in school performance, social withdrawal, depressive symptoms and poor physical health.6 Randomized controlled treatment trials have revealed that trauma-focused treatments can effectively ease symptoms in patients who suffer from PTSD.2,7 Narrative exposure therapy (NET) was recently developed as a standardized, short-term treatment that focuses exclusively on the reconstruction of episodic trauma memory through a detailed and emotional narration of the biography, with particular emphasis on the traumatic events and a focus on achieving habituation to the emotional responses at the end. Therefore, this treatment can potentially preclude a mixture of therapeutic methods such as the application of both psychotherapy and pharmacotherapy in a single patient. University of Konstanz, Germany studied the efficacy of NET as evaluated in a randomized controlled trial in Sudanese refugees living in a Ugandan refugee settlement who were diagnosed as suffering from PTSD. The results indicated that NET is an approach that shows potential for the treatment of PTSD in refugees living in unsafe conditions.8 Instead of asking the patient to define a single event, which is difficult in repeated and multiple traumas, asking the patient to construct a narrative of their whole life with therapist assistance is encouraging.9 Thus, this idea indicates NET is better in assessing many traumatic life events in a patient's life in a more timely and organized way than other psychotherapies. Since PTSD is a problem, there is no clear first choice treatment for the problem. Several randomized controlled trials have showed the efficacy of NET; however there is no existing evidence based review on this topic so this review will be important.

P-1010 - JERI - a finnish integrated intervention model for adolescents at risk for psychosis

Introduction Jorvi Early psychosis Recognition and Intervention (JERI) - team at Helsinki University Central Hospital (HUCH) is an early detection and intervention team for adolescents at risk for psychosis. Objectives The JERI team meets with adolescents at ages between 12–22 at school or at home together with their parents and with community co-worker, for example with social worker, teacher, nurse or GP, who has contacted the team for reason of unclear or undiagnosed mental health problems. Aims The main purpose of JERI team is to identify the possible risk of psychosis by interview instruments and meet the client and family together with community co worker(s) to find a way to reduce stress. Methods The model is based on idea of community and family oriented care and stress-vulnerability model of psychosis. The JERI hypothesis is that stress-reducing care where family and community co workers are involved could decrease pre-psychotic symptoms and increase functioning ability in adolescents at risk for psychosis. Results As an example: A school nurse contacts JERI-team because of a schoolboy who has started to stay at home recently. His parents argue a lot, he is bullied at school and he has problems in school performance. The parents would be involved in discussions about the family situation, the school social worker about how to stop bullying and the teacher how to support the school performance despite of possible cognitive problems. Conclusions Presented model seems to work according to clinical experience and an earlier follow-up study.

Desempeño ocupacional escolar de jóvenes con Síndrome de Asperger que asisten al sistema de educación regular

Asperger syndrome is a disorder with a prevalence of approximately 2.6 to 4.8 per 1,000 inhabitants in our country the figures of this disorder are unknown and the investigations that describe the situation of these people. Access to education, equal opportunity is a right of all students, young people with this diagnosis have problems in school performance or arising out of its barriers and attitudes of the context in which behaviors include bullying and lack of inclusive designs that allow them access, remain in and graduate from an educational system successfully and where this stage constitute a nutritional contribution to the lives of people who will be remembered with affection and to promote self-esteem necessary for future inclusion and participation social. In this scenario, the present study is aimed at exploring the Occupational Performance School young Asperger Syndrome attending the regular school system. The design is an exploratory study with case studies; techniques were used for collecting data through a semistructured interview applied to two youths, their mothers, teachers and members of the health team. The method of analysis of the results was conducted using ATLASti. In both cases there is little motivation to engage in occupations of the school system, erratic performance in school with curricular adaptations permanent, over-reliance on the family organization of the routine, conflictual relationship with peers causing serious mental health disorders. The study also to collect hinder the process, describe personal and contextual facilitators to will be a great contribution to the process of school integration of these young people in our country.

Serendipitous Identification of Graves' Disease in Identical Twins with Polydipsia

Graves' disease in adolescents and adults usually presents with classic symptoms including weight loss, frequent stools, irritability, and heat intolerance. However, the clinical manifestations of hyperthyroidism in young children are often subtle, unrecognized, and atypical. Here, we report a 6 year-old girl who presented for evaluation of increased. thirst. Review of systems was negative with respect to weight loss, irritability, palpitations, diarrhea, and school performance problems. Physical exam was unremarkable except for an enlarged thyroid gland. Her identical twin sister, who incidentally accompanied her to clinic, also had a previously unidentified goiter. Testing for diabetes was negative. Further laboratory investigation was consistent with Graves' disease in both girls. Polydipsia is a rare and unusual presenting feature of hyperthyroidism in children. The evolution of this case highlights the importance of maintaining a high index of suspicion for thyroid disease during childhood.

Fear of harm, a possible phenotype of pediatric bipolar disorder: A dimensional approach to diagnosis for genotyping psychiatric syndromes

Background In a prior concordance study of affected sibling pairs with a community diagnosis of pediatric bipolar disorder (PBD) a behavioral phenotype termed Fear of Harm (FOH) was found to have one of the strongest concordance coefficients (rho) between probands and siblings, and the widest contrasts between the rho-estimates for the proband/sibling vs. proband/comparison pairs [Papolos, D., Hennen, J., Cockerham, M.S, Lachman, H., 2007]. A strategy for identifying phenotypic subtypes: concordance of symptom dimensions between sibling pairs who met screening criteria for a genetic linkage study of childhood-onset bipolar disorder using the Child Bipolar Questionnaire (CBQ) was employed. J. Affect. Disord. 99, 27–36.]. We used the Child Bipolar Questionnaire (OUT) (CBQ) to further elucidate this behavioral phenotype of PBD. We hypothesized that selective factors including parent reported symptoms of mania and depression, would be distinguishing features of impairment between groups defined by 1) the magnitude of their score on a continuous measure of FOH, and 2) the high FOH group would have significantly greater levels of severity on course of illness variables. These measures included earlier age of onset of first psychiatric symptoms, first hospitalization, and frequency of psychiatric hospitalizations, as well as, degree of social impairment as determined by exposure to the juvenile justice system and school performance problems. Methods The sample was comprised of children with community diagnoses of bipolar disorder or at risk for the illness based on enriched family history with multiple first degree relatives diagnosed with BPD ( N = 5335). Included were all subjects who had > 40 positively endorsed CBQ symptom items at frequencies of very often, almost always, and always. This group was divided randomly into two groups, the exploratory group ( N = 2668) and the hypothesis testing (study) group ( N = 2666). The exploratory group was used for the development of hypotheses and the study group was used to test these hypotheses on a new set of data. All results reported here derive from the latter group. In subsequent analyses, we classified each child as having a high degree of FOH, low FOH, or no FOH. We examined a subset of the sample for differences in age of onset of first psychiatric symptoms, course of illness and measures of symptom severity. These groups were compared using the chi-square procedure for categorical data and the Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) with Scheffe pair wise tests for continuous variables. The Child Bipolar Questionnaire V.2.0, the Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale (YBOCS) and the Overt Aggression Scale (OAS) were the principal instruments used to obtain diagnostic information for this study. Results We found that children representative of the FOH phenotype when compared to children with PBD who lack this trait had higher indices of severity of mania and depression, as well as other indices that reflect severity and course of illness. Trait factors were derived from a factor analysis of CBQ in a large population of children diagnosed with or at risk for PBD, and used to further elucidate trait features of children with FOH. Children with the FOH traits were also more likely to be defined by six CBQ factors; Sleep/Arousal, Harm to Self and Others, Territorial Aggression, Anxiety, Self-esteem, Psychosis/Parasomnias/Sweet Cravings/Obsessions (PPSO). Limitations This data is derived from samples enriched with bipolar disorder cases. Further validation is needed with samples in which childhood-onset BD is rarer and diagnoses more diverse. Clinician diagnosis was not validated via research interview. Conclusions The FOH phenotype, as defined by a metric derived from combining items from the YBOCS/OAS, is a clinically homogeneous behavioral phenotype of PBD with early age of onset, severe manic and depressive symptoms, and significant social impairment that is strongly associated with 6 CBQ factors and can be easily identified using the CBQ. Through the examination of dimensional features of PBD in an enriched sample of large size, we were able to further refine a phenotype and identify clinical dimensions potentially linked to endophenotypic markers that may prove fruitful in differential diagnosis, treatment and etiological studies of PBD. The nature of the sets of specific symptoms that comprise the FOH factors enabled us to propose a biological model for the phenotype (OUT) that involves a complex orexigenic circuit which links hypothalamic, limbic, and other brain nuclei primarily responsible for the regulation of behavioral and proposed physiological features of the FOH phenotype.

Health-Related Quality of Life in Children with Neurofibromatosis Type 1: Contribution of Demographic Factors, Disease-Related Factors, and Behavior

To investigate health-related quality of life (HR-QOL) in children with neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) with parental reports and children's self-reports, and to investigate the potential contribution of demographic factors, disease-specific factors, and problems in school performance or behavior. In a prospective observational study, parents of 58 children with NF1 (32 boys, 26 girls, age 12.2 +/- 2.5 years) visiting a university clinic, and their 43 children 10 years or older were assessed with the Child Health Questionnaire (CHQ). Potential determinants of domain scores were assessed in 3 explorative regression models. Parents reported a significant impact of NF1 on 9/13 CHQ scales, with moderate effect sizes on 8 (general health perceptions, physical functioning, general behavior, mental health, self esteem, family activities, role functioning emotional/behavioral, and parent emotional impact). Children report an impact on bodily pain, and an above average general behavior. Multiple CHQ scales were sensitive to demographic factors and behavioral problems, and 1 to NF1 severity. NF1 visibility and school problems did not influence HR-QOL. Parents, but not the children with NF1, report a profound impact of NF1 on physical, social, behavioral, and emotional aspects of HR-QOL. Multiple HR-QOL domains were most sensitive to behavioral problems, which points to an exciting potential opportunity to improve HR-QOL in children with NF1 by addressing these behavioral problems.

School Performance: The Pediatrician's Role

When children begin having difficulties in school, the first stop for parents is often the pediatrician's office. Although school performance problems may seem outside the realm of routine primary health care, there are many important roles that the primary care provider may play. These include identifying medical issues that may impact performance, helping the family form an intervention team, and acting as the child's advocate when interacting with the school. In addition, it is important for pediatricians to be familiar with cognitive, emotional, and developmental problems that affect school performance and to assist parents in becoming active participants in their children's education.

Aircraft Noise Perception and Annoyance at Schools near Salgado Filho International Airport, Brazil

This article presents results of an evaluation of aircraft noise perception and annoyance in schools located in the vicinity of Salgado Filho International Airport, in the city of Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil. This research is based on indoor and outdoor acoustic measurements, in addition to questionnaires in three schools. The results indicate problems in school performance, resulting from frequent interruption of classroom communication associated with high noise levels. The research also indicates that children aged between 11 and 13 years form the most vulnerable group.

Executive functions and seizure-related factors in children with epilepsy in western Norway

Executive functions (EFs), seizure-related factors, and school performance were studied in a population-based sample of children with epilepsy (n=117; 71 males, 46 females; mean age 10y 5mo [SD 2y]; range 6y-12y 11mo) and a comparison group (n=124; 71 males, 53 females; mean age 10y 1mo [SD 2y 1mo]; range 6y-12y 11mo). EF, cognitive function, depression, socioeconomic status, and school performance were examined. Patients with epilepsy performed significantly lower than the comparison group on all EF measures except incidental memory. Intellectual dysfunction and depression accounted for 43% of EF problems. All epilepsy syndrome groups (except Rolandic epilepsy) were associated with decreased EF in addition to early epilepsy onset, high seizure frequency, and polytherapy. Patients had more school performance problems than comparison children which were attributed partly to EF difficulties. All aspects of EF were affected in children with epilepsy and all epilepsy syndrome groups, except Rolandic epilepsy, influenced EF negatively. EF problems contributed to patients' school difficulties beyond intellectual dysfunction.

Identifying School Performance Problems in the Pediatric Office

The AAP has underscored the role and responsibility of pediatricians in screening their patients for developmental and learning problems and working with parents, schools, and other professionals to ensure that students with these problems receive appropriate educational and therapeutic interventions. We have proposed a model that is time-efficient and can be tailored to the level of interest and experience of the pediatrician. At a minimum, the primary care physician should elicit any parental concerns about school performance, affirm these, and direct the student and parents to appropriate resources in the community for further evaluation and intervention as necessary. Pediatricians who wish to understand more fully the nature and underpinnings of their patients' learning difficulties can formulate a preliminary diagnosis and develop a plan for treatment using a structured system of information gathering that can be combined with information about the child's medical status and supplemented by brief direct testing in the office setting. By following these approaches, primary care pediatricians can provide comprehensive care for their patients and their families in their medical home and also can derive considerable professional satisfaction.

History of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder symptoms and opioid dependence: a controlled study

The co-occurrence of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and substance use disorders has received considerable attention in recent clinical and scientific investigations. These two disorders are linked to one another in a variety of ways. The core symptoms of ADHD may be mimicked by the effects of psychoactive substance use, making it difficult to diagnose one disorder in the presence of the other. Individuals with ADHD may demonstrate earlier onset of the substance abuse and a pattern of more frequent or intense use. ADHD symptoms were explored as possible antecedents of opioid dependence. A total of 109 adult opioid-dependent, treatment-seeking male and female outpatients were investigated with an extended clinical semistructured interview to collect sociodemographic, drug-related, and clinical data. The results indicate that ADHD alone does not predispose the development of opioid dependence in our sample. Childhood ADHD symptoms may nevertheless be found more frequently related to school performance problems and difficulties in social adaptation, which was identified in more than half of our population. Patients with ADHD history seemed to experience a drug abuse career with more complications which need to be recognized with focused attention in order to start earlier treatment strategies.

The Affordable Housing Crisis: Residential Mobility of Poor Families and School Mobility of Poor Children

Residential mobility that results in changing schools has serious implications for a student's academic success. The lack of housing that the lowest income households can afford contributes to housing instability resulting in frequent moves and, for some families, periods of homelessness. Federal housing policy does not provide resources needed to address the shortage of affordable housing and in some cases directly destabilizes housing for low-income families. While school-based strategies can intervene in reducing school changes for some students, housing-based strategies including major new federal investment in low-income rental housing assistance and rental housing production are required. The relationship between residential mobility and school performance has been identified as a source of concern for educators, policymakers, and parents (Fowler-Finn, 2001; Holloway, 2000; Rothstein, 2000). Children who move from one domicile to another may also move from one school to another. No matter when this takes place or why, some degree of learning disruption is likely to occur. Children of low-income families are at particular risk of school performance problems related to residential mobility. Low-income families have higher rates of residential mobility than do middle- and upper-income families, and moves by low-income families are less likely to be for positive reasons than are moves by more prosperous families (Scanlon & Devine, 2001; Schachter, 2001a, 2001b). Americans are a mobile lot, with around 16% of the population changing residences at least once a year (Schachter, 2001b). There are many positive reasons why families move: a parent has a better job opportunity, the family builds or buys a better house, extended families want to live closer to one another, and a new neighborhood is served by a better school. There are also many reasons that are traumatic: divorce, death, domestic violence, eviction (Hartman & Robinson, in press) or foreclosure, forced relocation, or diminished financial resources from loss of employment or public benefits. The role of housing problems and housing policy in frequent family moves that are associated with low-income children's poor school performance is the subject of this article. The Role of Housing in Child and Family Well-Being Although tacitly understood by all, most people in the United States take for granted the centrality of good housing to their overall well-being. This is because most Americans are well-housed, meaning they have stable, safe, and decent housing that they can afford and which is located in good neighborhoods of their choosing. If they do move from one home to another, it is by choice. The absence of good housing makes it possible to understand its importance to the success of other facets of life, such as employment, schooling, childrearing, nutrition, and health. Housing that is overcrowded, in poor repair, or presents health hazards puts enormous stress on the residents. Housing that costs more than the household can afford threatens stability, exposing the household to the possibility of foreclosure or eviction in the worst case and inability to pay for other necessities in the best case. The importance of safe, decent, and affordable housing to good health is increasingly prominent in public health policy and research (Anderson, Shinn, & St. Charles, 2002). Children in families waiting for housing assistance are exposed to much higher levels of housing-related health hazards than are children whose families are receiving housing assistance (Sharfstein, Sandel, Kahn, & Bauchner, 2001). Stable, affordable housing was found to be the most important factor in explaining differences in rates of infant mortality among children born to extremely poor mothers (Culhane & Elo, 2001). Housing has important implications for child development. The nature and quality of parenting is influenced by the housing in which the family resides. …

Modeling the prediction of elementary school adjustment from preschool temperament

While there is a growing body of research demonstrating associations between temperament and behavior problems, there are few longitudinal studies of temperament rated in early childhood, and behavior problems and skills assessed during the elementary school years in which different sources of data are used. In this research, parental ratings of temperament at age 5 years were used to predict school performance problems, behavior problems and positive social behaviors as rated by teachers at age 8 years. Using Latent Variable Path Analysis With Partial Least Squares Estimation parent rated negative emotionality was found to be a substantial predictor of externalizing behavior problems, and a modest predictor of positive social behaviors (negative direction). Also, self-regulation of motor behavior and attention were found to be predictive of school performance problems, and positive social behavior. This study strengthens the empirical literature on the connection between temperament and behavior problems, particularly problems observed in school setting. It underscores the importance of parent rated negative emotionality as a potent predictor of later occurring behavior problems.