Investigation of familial and school-based risk factors for Hispanic Head Start children.

Abstract

The relation of familial and school-based risk factors to socioemotional and learning problems was studied in a sample of Hispanic children in Head Start programs. Socioemotional problems were found to relate most strongly to school-based solitary play, negative peer interaction, and maternal reports of child temperament, while associated learning problems related most strongly to school-based attention span. Significant gender interaction was also identified. Results support use of a culturally sensitive ecological model for assessing child behavior and hold implications for further research.

A longitudinal study of the social and academic competence of economically disadvantaged bilingual preschool children.

“…Grossman and Shigaki (1994) found that cultural factors may distort teacher perceptions of temperament. For example, Hispanic preschool girls may appear to teachers as shy, timid, and withdrawn.…”

“…However, temperament in young children is influenced by a number of factors such as poor parenting, economic hardships (Sanson, Oberklaid, Pedlow, & Prior, 1991), and cultural norms and beliefs (Chen, Rubin, & Li, 1995;Smart & Sanson, 2001). Grossman and Shigaki (1994) found that cultural factors may distort teacher perceptions of temperament. For example, Hispanic preschool girls may appear to teachers as shy, timid, and withdrawn.…”

Multimodal School-Based Intervention for At-Risk, Aggressive, Latency-Age Youth

“…This symptom constellation identified in the study predicts juvenile delinquency and adult criminality (Loeber 1991). The targeted schools were at high risk for mental health problems and delinquency because of a high ratio of economically disadvantaged families (John, Offord, Boyle & Racine, 1995) and high immigrant, ethnic populations (Grossman & Sdigaki, 1994). A letter explaining the goals and methods of the project was sent home to children and their parents.…”

African American fathers in head start: The case for gender role amplification

“…The marginalization of African America Head Start fathers is in direct contrast to the disproportionate research on the roles of African America Head Start mothers in the lives of their children (Pellegrini et al, 1990;Andrews et al, 1975;Gordon and Guinegh, 1975;Kogan & Gordon, 1975;Grossman ... Shigaki, 1994). Acknowledging the importance of paternal influences on preschoolers, the "Final Report of the Advisory Committee in Head Start Quality and Expansion" (U.S. Dept.…”