Predictive Value of Differential Assessment of Schoolchildren’s Maladaptation from Parent and Teacher Perspectives

Abstract

<p>Based on a comprehensive socio-psychological and medico-psychological studies schoolchildren's maladaptation and individual risk factors conducted among second-graders in 12 secondary schools of Nizhny Novgorod (857 students in total), we evaluated the differences in the predictive value of the survey data, which was receiveded from parents and teachers. On the basis of the data obtained from parents and teachers, we assesed the factor loadings. The correlation and factor analyses confirmed the assumption about different predictive value of the survey data obtained from teachers and parents, they gave information about mental disorder signs development in behavior of junior schoolchildren. The average predictive error was higher among teachers, which also indicates a higher predictive value of parents' estimates compared to teachers'. This conclusion largely contradicts the theory that a teacher's assessment of a child being in the educational environment is more objective than a parent's assessment based on observations made in the family environment.</p>