title: Consequences of childhood reading difficulties and behaviour problems for educational achievement and employment in early adulthood.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Reading difficulties (RDs) and behaviour problems (BPs) are two common childhood problems that have a high degree of stability and often negatively affect well-being in both the short and longer terms.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The study aimed to shed light on the unique and joint consequences of these two childhood problems for educational and occupational outcomes in early adulthood.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were drawn from a life-course longitudinal study of psychosocial development, the Australian Temperament Project.
  
  
  METHODS
  Parent and teacher reports and a standard reading test were used to define four groups of children at 7-8 years: RDs only; BPs only; both problems; and neither problem. These groups were followed forward to ascertain educational attainment and employment status at 19-20 and 23-24 years.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Each childhood problem was a unique risk for poorer educational and occupational outcomes, with co-occurring problems significantly increasing the risk of poorer educational outcomes. Further analyses revealed that the effects of childhood BPs on occupational status were mediated by secondary school non-completion, but childhood RDs were not.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The findings point to the importance of screening and early intervention to prevent or minimize the development of these two childhood problems, as well as continuing to support vulnerable children to increase their likelihood of secondary school completion.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health, Centre for Social and Early Emotional Development, School of Psychology, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Diana
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0003-3490-2048
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Smart
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health, Centre for Social and Early Emotional Development, School of Psychology, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: George J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Youssef
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Ann
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sanson
authors.affiliation: School of Psychological Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Margot
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Prior
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health, Centre for Social and Early Emotional Development, School of Psychology, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria, Australia.|Centre for Adolescent Health, The Royal Children's Hospital, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: John W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Toumbourou
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health, Centre for Social and Early Emotional Development, School of Psychology, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria, Australia.|Centre for Adolescent Health, The Royal Children's Hospital, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.|Murdoch Children's Research Institute, The Royal Children's Hospital, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Craig A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Olsson
mesh_terms: D000124:Achievement; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002653:Child Behavior Disorders / Q000209:etiology*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004410:Dyslexia / Q000523:psychology*; D004522:Educational Status; D004651:Employment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005191:Family Characteristics; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007807:Language Tests; D008297:Male; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology; D014478:Unemployment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014739:Victoria; D014825:Vocabulary; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: adult outcomes; childhood behaviour problems; childhood reading difficulties; education