In this article we replicate and extend findings from Duncan et al. (2007). The 1st study used Canada-wide data on 1,521 children from the National Longitudinal Survey of Children and Youth (NLSCY) to examine the influence of kindergarten literacy and math skills, mother-reported attention, and mother-reported socioemotional behaviors on 3rd-grade math and reading outcomes. Similar to Duncan et al., (a) math skills were the strongest predictor of later achievement, (b) literacy and attention skills predicted later achievement, and (c) socioemotional behaviors did not significantly predict later school achievement. As part of extending the findings, we incorporated a multiple imputation approach to handle missing predictor variable data. Results paralleled those from the original study in that kindergarten math skills and Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test-Revised scores continued to predict later achievement. However, we also found that kindergarten socioemotional behaviors, specifically hyperactivity/impulsivity, prosocial behavior, and anxiety/depression, were significant predictors of 3rd-grade math and reading. In the 2nd study, we used data from the NLSCY and the Montreal Longitudinal-Experimental Preschool Study (MLEPS), which was included in Duncan et al., to extend previous findings by examining the influence of kindergarten achievement, attention, and socioemotional behaviors on 3rd-grade socioemotional outcomes. Both NLSCY and MLEPS findings indicated that kindergarten math significantly predicted socioemotional behaviors. There were also a number of significant relationships between early and later socioemotional behaviors. Findings support the importance of socioemotional behaviors both as predictors of later school success and as indicators of school success.

Children (0-18 years) with maltreatment histories are vulnerable to experiencing difficulties across multiple domains of functioning, including educational outcomes that encompass not only academic achievement but also mental well-being. The current literature review adopted Slade and Wissow's model to examine (1) the link between childhood maltreatment and academic achievement, (2) the link between childhood maltreatment and mental health outcomes (i.e., emotional and behavioral difficulties), and (3) the bidirectional relationship between childhood academic achievement and mental health. In addition, we reviewed variables that might influence or help explain the link between childhood maltreatment and educational outcomes, drawing on developmental perspectives and Bronfenbrenner's ecological model. Finally, whenever possible, we presented findings specific to maltreated children in out-of-home care to highlight the unique challenges experienced by this population. Results indicated that children with maltreatment histories often experience impairments in both their academic performance (e.g., special education, grade retention, lower grades) and mental well-being (e.g., anxiety, low mood, aggression, social skills deficits, poor interpersonal relationships). These impairments appeared to be particularly pronounced among maltreated children in out-of-home care. Findings, albeit sparse, also indicated that mental health difficulties are negatively associated with children's academic achievement and, similarly, that academic achievement deficits are linked with mental health problems. The link between childhood maltreatment and educational outcomes may be partly explained through the disruption of key developmental processes in children, such as attachment, emotion regulation, and sense of agency. As well, maltreatment characteristics and the functioning of various systems in which children are embedded (e.g., family, school, child welfare) can serve to positively or negatively influence the educational outcomes of maltreated children. The theoretical, research, and applied implications stemming from the findings are considered.

Personal perceptions of the implications and meaning of sexual health and vaginal changes create the subjective experience of a need. Discussions of the women's perceptions of their needs and their views of healthy sexuality will help develop effective treatment plans.

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Objective: This systematic review and meta-analysis examined cross-informant agreement concerning mental health outcomes for maltreated children. This study provides important information to individuals working with maltreated children (e.g., clinicians, child welfare practitioners) who must make critical decisions related to safety, mental health, and permanency. Method: We retrieved 29 studies that collected mental health data for maltreated children using standardized instruments. We were able to examine 4 informant pairs and 7 mental health outcomes. Results: Agreement across children’s mental health outcomes was highest for child–caregiver pairs (small to large, significant effect sizes), followed by child–teacher and caregiver–teacher (small to medium, significant effect sizes) and then caregiver–caregiver (small, nonsignificant effect sizes) pairs. Agreement generally was highest for overt behaviors. Conclusions: It is important to include children as informants, gather teacher and caregiver data when assessing child internalizing difficulties, and examine specific maltreatment outcomes (e.g., traumatic stress). Clinically, it is critical to understand why different informants perceive a child’s functioning in different ways for purposes of prognosis and treatment planning for the child and his or her family. It is also critical to triangulate data sources when assessing for maltreatment impact and to consider data points that both converge and diverge when making appropriate safety and treatment plans.

This study investigated the effects of child care type, quantity, and quality on later behavioral outcomes (e.g., hyperactivity-inattention, internalizing behavior). We used data from the Canadian National Longitudinal Survey of Children and Youth to examine child care characteristics for children 0-11 months who were using child care (N = 365). Multiple regressions tested the impact of child care, while taking into account child and family variables, on behavioral outcomes at 6-7 years. Interactions between child care and family variables also were tested. Findings indicated that a regulated child care environment was associated with positive behavioral outcomes, even six years after the start of child care. Results also demonstrated that child care quality interacts with family variables to influence behavioral outcomes.

Whereas US-based data have contributed to our understanding of family composition changes over the last decades, data on Canadian families are limited, and previous studies have stressed the need for in depth, longitudinal investigations. This article begins to fill this gap in the literature by providing a current and detailed portrait of family composition changes from 1996 to 2008 (Study 1). Additionally, we performed an analysis of the role of specific child, parent and family characteristics, in interaction with family composition and family transition, in predicting pre-school children’s behavioral outcomes (Study 2). Using nationally-representative Canadian data collected from the National Longitudinal Survey of Children and Youth (NLSCY), we focus our inquiry on a mean sample for 0–5-year-olds of 2,866 children at cycle 8 (2008). Results show increases in non-traditional family households over time, as well as significant relationships between child characteristics, household characteristics, and family processes in predicting three behavioral outcomes: emotional problems, hyperactivity/impulsivity, and physical aggression.

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