David H. Arnold

Relational Aggression, Relational Victimization, and Language Development in Preschoolers

We investigated language development, relational aggression, and relational victimization in ethnically, socioeconomically diverse preschoolers. Relational aggression was positively related to language development. Girls were more relationally aggressive than boys, and higher-socioeconomic status (SES) children were more relationally aggressive and victimized than lower-SES children. Neither gender nor SES conclusively moderated the relation between language and relational aggression, though some findings suggest the possibility of stronger relations among boys and lower-SES children. Teachers agreed on ratings of relational aggression and relational victimization to a moderate extent.

Co-occurrence of externalizing behavior problems and emergent academic difficulties in young high-risk boys: a preliminary evaluation of patterns and mechanisms

Co-occurrence between externalizing behavior problems and emergent academic skills has been well-demonstrated in older children, but is poorly understood. This study examined this relationship in 74 young boys at risk for these problems because of low-SES. Externalizing behaviors were related to emergent academic difficulties across various assessment methods, and this relationship was stronger in older boys. Attention difficulties in children and teaching patterns of teachers appeared to be possible mediators of this relationship. These findings are consistent with a model of the relationship as reciprocal and complex, and point to possible mechanisms for future study.

Enrollment and Attendance in a Parent Training Prevention Program for Conduct Problems

Low levels of enrollment and attendance in parent training programs present major problems for researchers and clinicians. The literature on enrollment and attendance in prevention programs is especially limited, and these constructs may be particularly difficult to address in this context. Further, most previous research has not made the distinction between enrollment and attendance. This study describes predictors of enrollment and attendance in a behavioral parent training program intended to prevent conduct problems in preschoolers. Information was gathered from 106 preschoolers, their parents, and their teachers. Parent socioeconomic status (SES), single parent status, ethnicity, child externalizing behavior, parent depressive symptoms, and parent social support were investigated as possible predictors of families’ enrollment and attendance. Only 48% of the families that had already provided informed consent and completed demographic questionnaires actually enrolled in the parent training program; parents with lower incomes and lower levels of social support were less likely to enroll. In addition, African-American and Puerto Rican families were less likely to enroll than Caucasian families. The average attendance rate for enrolled parents was 61%; dual parents and parents with children evidencing externalizing behavior problems attended more parent training sessions. Parent depression was not associated with enrollment or attendance. Significant relationships were maintained when controlling for other predictors including SES and when accounting for center-level variance. In addition, three distinct patterns of attendance were observed, which may have practical implications related to retention strategies.

Promoting academic success and preventing disruptive behavior disorders through community partnership

Research suggests that childrens educational achievement can be improved by addressing issues of aggression and disruptive behavior, because academic difficulties and problem behaviors create a cycle in which each problem exacerbates the other. The relationship between academic development and behavior problems begins early, suggesting that programs to address these issues should start with young children. Furthermore, efforts to improve achievement are most likely to succeed when they focus both on childrens academic skills and on their interest in academic activities. As part of the research, programs at home and at school are being coordinated and community partnerships are being developed to test these approaches and facilitate childrens healthy development.

Parental influence on child interest in shared picture book reading

Abstract Children’s early interest in shared reading is thought to be important to later reading achievement. However, influences on such interest have not been adequately studied. The present study evaluated whether parents can affect their children’s interest in shared reading, using a multimethod assessment. Twenty-five parents and their preschool-aged children were randomly assigned to either an intervention group or an attention-control group. Parents in the interest intervention group learned strategies thought to be important to fostering interest in shared reading. After one week, children in the intervention group were more interested in shared reading compared to children in the attention-control group. After four weeks, intervention parents still reported increased child interest, though direct observations suggested somewhat diminished effects. These results provide a rare experimental evaluation of parental influence on interest, and suggest potential value in further developing interest interventions.

Gender differences in the relationship of language development to disruptive behavior and peer relationships in preschoolers

The present study examined whether there are gender differences among preschoolers in how language development is related to disruptive behavior and peer relationships. Participants were 185 largely minority, preschool children from low income families and their 16 teachers. Videotaped observations were coded to assess disruptive and off-task behavior in group learning situations. Teachers rated disruptive behavior and the quality of peer relationships and they provided information about service referrals. Language skills were assessed with standardized tests. Lower levels of language skills were more strongly associated with disruptive behavior and poor peer relationships for boys than for girls. Disruptive behavior was related to the probability that a child would be referred for services. Language development difficulties tended to be seen by teachers only when paired with behavior problems.

Do therapists address ethnic and racial differences in cross-cultural psychotherapy?

Ethnic and racial differences between client and therapist affect therapy processes and outcomes, but little is known about the extent to which therapists have dialogues about their differences in therapy. A survey on this topic was completed by 689 APA-licensed psychologists with experience conducting cross-cultural therapy. Most psychologists reported having such discussions, but with less than half of their cross-ethnic/racial clients. Therapists and clients were equally likely to initiate discussions. Reasons for discussing differences varied greatly. Therapists consistently described themselves as comfortable with and skilled at these discussions, and reported that discussions facilitated therapy. Therapists who were female, older, nonminority, less experienced with diverse clients, and viewed training as an important factor were more likely to have discussions about differences. Results point to the need to better understand if, when, and how ethnic and racial differences should be addressed in therapy. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2011 APA, all rights reserved).

Parenting and preschoolers' symptoms as a function of child gender and SES

ABSTRACT Improving parental discipline practices is a central target of behavioral parent training programs, but little research has examined how discipline varies as a function of gender. Based on the assumption that socialization practices might be related to gender differences in psychopathology, we examined relations between parenting and problem behaviors in children. We predicted that parents would be overreactive toward children displaying symptoms inconsistent with gender stereotypes and lax towards those with gender stereotype-consistent behavior. Parents of 112 preschool-aged children reported on their childrens externalizing and internalizing symptoms, and their own lax and overreactive parenting. As hypothesized, internalizing symptoms in girls and externalizing symptoms in boys predicted lax parenting, while externalizing behaviors in girls and internalizing symptoms in boys were associated with overreactive parenting. Exploratory analyses suggest that relations differed somewhat as a function of sociocultural status, pointing to the need for future studies to consider social context.

Parent-rated externalizing behavior in preschoolers: the predictive utility of structured interviews, teacher reports, and classroom observations.

This study investigated multiple forms of home and school assessment as predictors of parent-rated behavior problems across a preschool year. Participants were a community sample of 79 preschool children, their parents, and their teachers. Parent ratings of behavior problems were obtained toward the beginning of the school year and approximately 6 months later. Behavior problems were also assessed early in the school year using parent structured interviews, teacher-rating scales, and classroom observations of problem and prosocial behavior. Consistent with hypotheses, each assessment method significantly predicted year-end parent ratings of behavior problems, even above initial ratings.

Direct observation of peer rejection acts and their temporal relation with aggressive acts.

The peer rejection literature has focused only on sociometric rejection and has not included direct observation of specific acts of rejection. This study provides observations of rejection acts and examines the temporal relation between acts of rejection and aggressive acts. Videotape samples of 86 preschool children were collected from 6 classrooms. Acts of rejection were reliably coded. Aggressive acts and acts of rejection by peers tended to occur closely together in time, suggesting that these are related. A clear temporal pattern was found in which children were likely to be recipients of rejection acts shortly after exhibiting aggressive acts.