María Eugenia Martín Palacio

Evaluación de la relación entre la inhibición conductual y las aptitudes académicas en Educación Infantil. Resultados preliminares

Assessment of the connection between behavioral inhibition and academic aptitudes in early childhood education. Preliminary results. Behavioral inhibition refers to a temperamental tendency of reacting that people exhibit when confronted with novel people, situations or unfamiliar events. Recent studies have shown the relationship of this trend with disorders in psychological and social development. On the other hand, empirical studies have exposed the influence of multiple variables on academic performance. In this sense, this research examines the relationship between behavioral inhibition and four academic skills (oral verbal, written verbal, numerical and rote) in kindergarten students. We hypothesize a negative impact of high levels of behavioral inhibition in them.A total of 79 children from three childhood education courses have participated. Their teachers completed a questionnaire of behavioral inhibition and other about academic skills. The results of univariate analysis show significant results in three of the skills measured: verbal oral, verbal written and rote. In all three cases, mean scores are higher in the group with low level of inhibition respect to the group with mean level in inhibition. The results are consistent with the hypothesis, although it should consider the limitations of the study previously to evaluate psychoeducational implications.