title: Teacher-child relationships and behavioral adjustment: transactional links for preschool boys at risk.
abstract: In this short-term longitudinal study, transactional links between teacher-child relationships and behavioral adjustment were investigated in a sample of preschool boys (N=175) at risk for developing externalizing problems. Teachers (N=175) reported about the quality of the teacher-child relationship (i.e., Closeness, Conflict, and Dependency) and about children's behavioral adjustment (i.e., Externalizing Behavior, Internalizing Behavior, and Prosocial Behavior) at three occasions within one school year. Cross-lagged path-analytic models showed positive bidirectional associations between Conflict and both Externalizing and Internalizing Behavior from Time 1 to Time 2, but not from Time 2 to Time 3. In addition, there was a transactional sequence with more Conflict at Time 1 leading to less Prosocial Behavior at Time 2 which, in turn, predicted more Conflict at Time 3. Closeness was reciprocally and positively related to Prosocial Behavior over time, and was positively and unidirectionally predicted by Internalizing Behavior. Dependency showed positive reciprocal links with Internalizing Behavior over time, and negatively and unidirectionally predicted Prosocial Behavior. These findings suggest that interventions may be most effective if they adjust their focus and strategy depending on children's specific behavioral and relational needs.
authors.affiliation: School Psychology and Child and Adolescent Development, University of Leuven, Tiensestraat 102-box 3717, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium. Electronic address: debora.roorda@ppw.kuleuven.be.
authors.forename: Debora L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Roorda
authors.affiliation: School Psychology and Child and Adolescent Development, University of Leuven, Tiensestraat 102-box 3717, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium. Electronic address: karine.verschueren@ppw.kuleuven.be.
authors.forename: Karine
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Verschueren
authors.affiliation: School Psychology and Child and Adolescent Development, University of Leuven, Tiensestraat 102-box 3717, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium. Electronic address: caroline.vancraeyveldt@ppw.kuleuven.be.
authors.forename: Caroline
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Vancraeyveldt
authors.affiliation: School Psychology and Child and Adolescent Development, University of Leuven, Tiensestraat 102-box 3717, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium. Electronic address: sanne.vancraeyevelt@ppw.kuleuven.be.
authors.forename: Sanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Van Craeyevelt
authors.affiliation: School Psychology and Child and Adolescent Development, University of Leuven, Tiensestraat 102-box 3717, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium. Electronic address: hilde.colpin@ppw.kuleuven.be.
authors.forename: Hilde
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Colpin
mesh_terms: D002652:Child Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005178:Faculty; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D000066553:Problem Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D012917:Social Adjustment
keywords: Cross-lagged models; Externalizing behavior; Internalizing behavior; Prosocial behavior; Teacher–child relationships