Exploring pathways linking early childhood adverse experiences to reduced preadolescent school engagement.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Cross-sectional studies link adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) with school disengagement, contributing to chronic absenteeism and underachievement.

Objective

This prospective longitudinal study explored malleable mediators that might account for the developmental progression from early childhood ACEs to preadolescent school disengagement. Negative cascades were tested that explored student-teacher relationship quality and child behavior problems (internalizing and externalizing) as potential mediators.

Participants and setting

556 children were recruited from Head Start preschool classrooms (M_age = 4.67 years old, SD = 0.32; 51% female; 58% European American, 25% African American, 19% Latinx) at which time parents reported on ACEs.

Methods<

SUBMITTER: McDoniel ME 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9393199 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature