title: A longitudinal study of student-teacher relationship quality, difficult temperament, and risky behavior from childhood to early adolescence.
abstract: This study examines the mediating role of student-teacher relationship quality (conflict and closeness) in grades 4, 5, and 6 on the relation between background characteristics, difficult temperament at age 4 1/2 and risky behavior in 6th grade. The longitudinal sample of participants (N=1156) was from the NICHD Study of Early Child Care and Youth Development. Structural equation modeling was used to estimate paths from (a) background characteristics to student-teacher relationship quality and risky behavior, (b) temperament to student-teacher relationship quality and risky behavior, and (c) student-teacher relationship quality to risky behavior. Findings indicate that students' family income, gender, receipt of special services, and more difficult temperament were associated with risky behavior. In addition, student-teacher conflict was a mediator. Students with more difficult temperaments were more likely to report risky behavior and to have conflict in their relationships with teachers. More conflict predicted more risky behavior. Closer student-teacher relationships were associated with less risky behavior. Results suggest negative relationships, specifically student-teacher relationships, may increase the risk that certain adolescents will engage in risky behavior.
authors: University of Louisville, College of Education and Human Development, Louisville, KY 40292, USA. km.rudasill@louisville.edu
authors: Kathleen Moritz
authors: KM
authors: Rudasill
authors: Thomas G
authors: TG
authors: Reio
authors: Natalie
authors: N
authors: Stipanovic
authors: Jennifer E
authors: JE
authors: Taylor
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002657:Child Development; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003220:Conflict, Psychological; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008960:Models, Psychological; D012309:Risk-Taking; D013663:Teaching; D013694:Temperament; D014481:United States