title: Classroom climate and the mental health of primary school children.
abstract: This study was carried out to examine associations between classroom climate and pupils' mental health in primary school, and whether pupils who had emotional and behavioural problems in the second grade are more vulnerable to the effects of a poor classroom climate 4 years later. The study was carried out by means of questionnaires to teachers. The students (n = 861) were surveyed in the second (aged 8 years, Time 1) and sixth grade (aged 12 years, Time 2). The Rutter Teacher Questionnaire (RB2) at Time 1 and the Teacher Report Form (TRF) at Time 2 were used to measure internalizing, externalizing and total problem scores. Classroom climate was measured using a composite variable at Time 2. The results show associations between poor sixth-grade classroom climate and an increase in emotional and behavioural problems in both boys and girls. In addition, the girls who were overall poorly adjusted, particularly those who had externalizing problems in the second grade, were especially vulnerable to a poor classroom climate in the sixth grade.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Medicine, Hospital for Children and Adolescents, Helsinki University, P O Box 280, FI-00029 HUCH, Finland. heidi.somersalo@hus.fi
authors.forename: Heidi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Somersalo
authors.forename: Tytti
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Solantaus
authors.forename: Fredrik
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Almqvist
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002653:Child Behavior Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D003674:Defense Mechanisms; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D012307:Risk Factors; D012574:Schools; D012917:Social Adjustment; D012931:Social Environment; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013663:Teaching