Risk factors in the development of behaviour difficulties among students with special educational needs and disabilities: A multilevel analysis.
BACKGROUND
Students with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) are more likely to exhibit behaviour difficulties than their typically developing peers.


OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to identify specific risk factors that influence variability in behaviour difficulties among individuals with SEND.


METHODS
The study sample comprised 4,228 students with SEND, aged 5-15, drawn from 305 primary and secondary schools across England.


METHODS
Explanatory variables were measured at the individual and school levels at baseline, along with a teacher-reported measure of behaviour difficulties (assessed at baseline and at 18-month follow-up).


RESULTS
Hierarchical linear modelling of data revealed that differences between schools accounted for between 13% (secondary) and 15.4% (primary) of the total variance in the development of students' behaviour difficulties, with the remainder attributable to individual differences. Statistically significant risk markers for these problems across both phases of education were being male, eligibility for free school meals, being identified as a bully, and lower academic achievement. Additional risk markers specific to each phase of education at the individual and school levels are also acknowledged.


CONCLUSIONS
Behaviour difficulties are affected by risks across multiple ecological levels. Addressing any one of these potential influences is therefore likely to contribute to the reduction in the problems displayed.
Department of Psychology, Manchester Metropoli'tan University, UK.
Jeremy
J
Oldfield
Manchester Institute of Education, University of Manchester, UK.
Neil
N
Humphrey
Department of Psychology, Leeds Trinity University, UK.
Judith
J
Hebron
D000293:Adolescent; D058445:Bullying; D002648:Child; D002653:Child Behavior Disorders / Q000209:etiology*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003142:Communication; D002658:Developmental Disabilities / Q000523:psychology*; D004519:Education, Special; D004739:England; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D055361:Multilevel Analysis; D010379:Peer Group; D012307:Risk Factors; D000070777:School Teachers; D012574:Schools / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors
behaviour difficulties; risk factors; special educational needs and disabilities