ERIC Number: EJ823510
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2008-Nov
Pages: 16
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0012-1649
EISSN: N/A
Available Date: N/A
Collateral Benefits of the Family Check-Up on Early Childhood School Readiness: Indirect Effects of Parents' Positive Behavior Support
Lunkenheimer, Erika S.; Dishion, Thomas J.; Shaw, Daniel S.; Connell, Arin M.; Gardner, Frances; Wilson, Melvin N.; Skuban, Emily M.
Developmental Psychology, v44 n6 p1737-1752 Nov 2008
The authors examined the longitudinal effects of the Family Check-Up (FCU) on parents' positive behavior support and children's school readiness competencies in early childhood. It was hypothesized that the FCU would promote language skills and inhibitory control in children at risk for behavior problems as an indirect outcome associated with targeted improvements in parents' positive behavior support. High-risk families in the Women, Infants, and Children Nutrition Program participated in a multisite preventive intervention study (N = 731) with 3 yearly assessments beginning at child age 2 years. Positive behavior support was measured using 4 indicators derived from at-home observations of parent-child interaction during semistructured tasks. Longitudinal structural equation models revealed that parents in families randomly assigned to the FCU showed improvements in positive behavior support from child age 2 to 3, which in turn promoted children's inhibitory control and language development from age 3 to 4, accounting for child gender, ethnicity, and parental education. Findings suggest that a brief, ecological preventive intervention supporting positive parenting practices can indirectly foster key facets of school readiness in children at risk.
Descriptors: Behavior Problems, School Readiness, Intervention, Structural Equation Models, Parenting Styles, Behavior Modification, Language Skills, Language Acquisition, Longitudinal Studies, At Risk Students, Self Control, Prevention, Parent Child Relationship, Gender Differences, Ethnicity, Parent Background, Educational Attainment, Young Children, Observation, Family Environment
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Evaluative
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
IES Funded: Yes
Grant or Contract Numbers: R305B060014
Author Affiliations: N/A