Journal of School Psychology最新文献

Early career teachers experience exceptionally high rates of attrition from the profession, often due in part to elevated concerns about student behavior and poor occupational health. This study reports findings from a randomized controlled trial testing the combined effect of the PAX Good Behavior Game and MyTeachingPartner™ for 188 early career, early elementary teachers (Grades K–3). Of primary focus were observations of the quality of teachers' interactions with students and their self-reported occupational health over 2 consecutive school years. Results indicated that relative to comparison teachers, those in the intervention condition reported lower distress at follow-up (d = −0.23) and less decline in teacher affiliation across the 2-year period (d = 0.50). In addition, the intervention teachers who were highly distressed at baseline and who experienced high levels of disruptive behavior had higher quality interactions with students around emotional support (d = 0.27), classroom organization (d = 0.32), and instructional support (d = 0.69) at the end of 2 years than comparison teachers. This subgroup of intervention teachers also experienced more favorable changes over time in distress (d = −2.47) and teacher affiliation (d = 3.00) over the course of the study. Professional development focused on classroom management with coaching support may be particularly impactful for early career teachers experiencing higher levels of distress and in classrooms with higher rates of behavior problems.

Using a large sample of students (N = 1373; 40% girls; M_age = 14 years) from 54 classrooms in South Korea, this study identified subtypes of bullies based on specific combinations of self-reports and peer-reports and examined the intrapersonal and interpersonal factors that explain the differences in characteristics between these identified groups. Latent profile analysis identified four subgroups of bullies: (a) non-bullies (59.5%), (b) peer-identified bullies (21%), (c) self-identified bullies (9.8%), and (d) self/peer-identified bullies (9.7%). Multinomial logistic hierarchical analysis revealed significant differences between the bully subgroups on the four intrapersonal factors (i.e., anti-bullying attitudes, perception of teachers' reaction to bullying, delinquent behavior, and depression; odds ratios [OR] ranged from 0.24 to 3.13) and three of the four interpersonal factors (i.e., overestimated popularity, rejection, and victimization; ORs ranged from 0.39 to 2.26). More specifically, compared to the peer-identified bully group, the non-bully and self/peer-identified bully groups showed opposite patterns of anti-bullying attitudes, delinquent behavior, and peer status (ORs ranged from 0.46 to 3.13). Relative to the peer-identified bully group, the self-identified bully group was more likely to exhibit depressive symptoms and perceive themselves as being victimized, was less likely to endorse anti-bullying attitudes, and had a less positive perception of teacher's reaction to bullying (ORs ranged from 0.24 to 1.40). Gender differences emerged as well. Implications for optimizing the screening of bullying perpetrators and anti-bullying interventions are discussed.

Text reading fluency (TRF) is a common reading intervention target in second and third grade. TRF requires the integration of several skills that result in several pathways to dysfluent reading. However, when applying the drill-down approach to intervention targeting, practitioners are guided to consider students' rate and accuracy when reading connected text after ruling out decoding difficulties. A question remains whether students' reading rate and accuracy alone is sensitive to differences in the underlying skills that promote TRF. We used latent profile analysis to investigate whether different profiles of component reading skills could be identified among second- (n = 127) and third-grade (n = 170) students who were referred for an intervention targeting TRF. Most students were identified as white (56%) and students were predominately English speakers (87%). At the beginning of the intervention, we measured participants' skills in listening comprehension, reading comprehension, reading vocabulary, word reading efficiency, and decoding efficiency. Four profiles emerged in both grades with similar patterns in terms of the component skills influencing TRF. Students in two of the profiles demonstrated relative strengths in word reading or reading comprehension with their other skills near the sample average. A third profile approximated the sample average across all component skills whereas the fourth profile was below the sample average in all measured skills. However, some of the empirically derived profiles did not differ in terms of students' average reading rate. For example, the average words read correct per minute did not significantly differ between students with relative strengths in comprehension and students with relative strengths with word reading. Our results suggest that differences in students' text reading rate and accuracy may not always capture potentially relevant differences in the skills that influence TRF.

Many studies have indicated an alarming prevalence of anxiety among Chinese adolescents, highlighting the critical need for prevention protocols. DNA-V (Discoverer, Noticer, Advisor-Values model) is an adapted version of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy designed to prevent mental health problems in adolescents. This study investigated the effects and underlying mechanisms of DNA-V. The DNA-V prevention program was culturally adapted and optimized in both content and form specifically for Chinese adolescents, with the aim of reducing anxiety levels. A total of 139 participants (59 females) from six eighth-grade classes at an average middle school in Beijing were randomly assigned to one of three groups consisting of the DNA-V face-to-face group (two classes), the DNA-V web-based group (two classes), or the active control group (two classes). Adolescents' anxiety and cognitive fusion were measured before (Time 1), immediately after (Time 2), and 2 months after (Time 3) the program using the Chinese Secondary School Students Anxiety Scale (CSSSAS) and Cognitive Fusion Questionnaire (CFQ). Results showed that in the DNA-V face-to-face group, the anxiety score at Time 3 was significantly lower than the scores at Time 1 (p < .001, Cohen's d_rm = 0.56) and Time 2 (p = .043, Cohen's d_rm = 0.24). The cognitive fusion score at Time 3 was significantly lower than the scores at Time 1 (p = .001, Cohen's d_rm = 0.51) and Time 2 (p = .003, Cohen's d_rm = 0.37). The results of the study suggest that the DNA-V prevention program could serve as an effective tool for reducing anxiety in adolescents.

Using a person-centered approach, we aimed to identify different executive functioning profiles to assess heterogeneity across individuals within the same school grade through latent profile analysis. A sample of 150 Grade 2 (7–8 years old), 150 Grade 6 (11–12 years old), and 150 Grade 10 (15–16 years old) children and adolescents were assessed on 11 different executive tasks representative of the three main executive functioning subcomponents (i.e., inhibition, cognitive flexibility, and working memory), fluid intelligence, processing speed, problem-solving, and reading comprehension. Three different executive functioning profiles of different patterns of interactions based on inhibition, cognitive flexibility, and working memory within and between grades were identified. Moreover, these profiles were differentially related to reading comprehension and mathematical achievement. Second, as expected, we did not find these profiles to be associated with sociodemographic variables such as chronological age or sex. Still, fluid intelligence and processing speed were differentially related to the different profiles at each grade. We also found that the executive functioning profiles interacted with each cognitive skill (i.e., fluid intelligence and processing speed) in predicting reading comprehension and math achievement. These findings provide valuable insights for developing preventive and intervention strategies in education.

Emergent Bilinguals (EBs) comprise nearly a third of children enrolled in early childhood classrooms across the United States. Unfortunately, EB populations are often met with barriers that limit their opportunity to thrive in the school setting. Bilingual school psychologists (BSPs) are uniquely positioned to provide culturally and linguistically responsive academic and behavioral services to these young students. However, to date, there are no empirical studies exploring the graduate preparation received by early childhood BSPs and the services provided to young EBs. The present study involved the development and administration of a national survey examining the role of BSPs in early childhood settings. A convergent mixed-methods approach was used to analyze survey results from 97 participants. The results indicated that most early childhood BSPs felt unprepared by their graduate programs, although most indicated receiving early childhood preparation and almost half indicated receiving bilingual preparation. Four qualitative themes also emerged from the data. Implications for future research and preparation are discussed.

The level of psychological stress in children and adolescents has increased rapidly over the past decade. The aim of the present meta-analysis was to evaluate the effectiveness of school-based intervention programs targeting stress management and coping/resilience in school-aged children. The present study used more rigorous selection criteria than previous meta-analyses by only including randomized controlled trials to increase the validity of the meta-analysis. Fifty-five studies were selected for the analysis, including 66 comparisons in the case of stress and 47 comparisons in the case of coping/resilience outcomes. A meta-regression with robust variance estimation was used. Effects were calculated as the standardized mean difference (Hedges' g) between the intervention and control conditions at posttest. The results highlighted important methodological issues and the influence of outliers. Without outliers, the results indicated a small significant overall effect on stress (g = −0.15, p < .01) and coping/resilience (g = 0.14, p = .01). When outliers were included, the effect sizes markedly increased in both cases (g_stress = −0.26, p = .022; g_{coping/resilience} = 0.30, p = .009). Stress management interventions were more effective if they were delivered by mental health professionals or researchers than by teachers. Coping/resilience interventions were more effective in older age groups, in selective samples, and if they included cognitive behavioral therapy. An explanation of the results and a detailed discussion of the limitations of the study and its implications for practice are considered.

Although many students experience math anxiety in school, the contexts in which it occurs are not well-understood. Increased understanding of the environmental situations that might elicit math anxiety is needed to better support students' math achievement. Using a within-subjects design, we examined differences in math anxiety and math performance across math task timing (i.e., overt timing vs. covert timing) and math task complexity (i.e., simple vs. complex problems) with 113 fourth- (n = 38) and fifth-grade (n = 75) students. ANCOVA results showed no significant differences in participant reporting of math anxiety between overt and covert timing conditions for both simple (p = .27) and complex problems (p = .42). However, participants reported higher levels of math anxiety when working on complex math tasks compared to working on simple math tasks (p = .01). Findings also showed that participants with medium to high baseline math anxiety were more likely to report higher levels of math anxiety when completing complex math problems under the covert timing condition, p = .02, η² = 0.13. Implications for practice and future research are discussed.

Racial stereotypes are salient to Black adolescents and to the academic domain of mathematics; however, few studies have examined the socio-cognitive mechanisms through which racial stereotypes impact math achievement. This 2-year longitudinal study (N = 790 Grade 6, 8, and 10 students during Year 1; 50.7% girls and 49.3% boys) investigated (a) the extent to which the endorsement of positively and negatively biased racial stereotypes predicted Black adolescents' math performance through their cognitive engagement and ability mindset and (b) whether gender and ethnic-racial identity moderated these links. Results suggested that endorsement of negatively biased stereotypes was associated with diminished cognitive engagement and lower math scores across 2 years (p < .05). Additionally, adolescents' ethnic-racial identity commitment moderated the negative links between stereotype endorsement and math cognitive engagement in Year 2 (p < .05). When considering the mediating role of math ability mindsets, the endorsement of both positively and negatively biased racial stereotypes operated on math performance via its links to stronger fixed ability mindset beliefs in both years (p < .05). Gender also moderated the effects of racial stereotype endorsement on math mindset beliefs in Year 1 (p < .01). This study's findings advance the field's understanding of the psychosocial mechanisms through which racial stereotypes operate, thus enabling educators to develop tailored practices that facilitate equitable access to math learning opportunities.

School psychologists have many roles and responsibilities that often lead to high stress levels. Wise (1985) authored the School Psychologists and Stress Inventory (SPSI), but it has not been updated substantially since its publication. We developed two studies to address the stressors faced by currently practicing school psychologists. Study 1 included 229 practicing school psychologists who evaluated the relevancy of the SPSI items and who listed five highly stressful events experienced considering the current context of practice. Based on these results, 13 SPSI items were removed, 21 SPSI items were revised, and 12 new items were added. The resulting measure, the School Psychologist Distress Inventory (SPDI), consists of 33 items and an additional item addressing overall stress. Study 2 examined validity evidence associated with the SPDI score structure. Using data from a sample of 350 practicing school psychologists, a sequence of exploratory factor analytic methods indicated the presence of a general factor of distress as well as four more specific factors, including Heavy Workload, Student Needs, Lack of Professional Support, and Parental and Legal Conflicts. Convergent relations and discriminant relations were evident between (a) SPDI total and subscales and (b) measures reflecting general stress level, role stressors, role overload, and job satisfaction. Examination of SPDI scores revealed they were not significantly related to age in years, educational levels, or school-psychologist-to-student ratio by state; however, lack of professional support was statistically significantly but weakly related to years of experience. Student needs were significantly more stressful across participants in the Western region of the United States than the Midwest region. Results from these two studies suggest the promise of using the SPDI to examine general and specific experiences of school psychologists' distress and they reveal that distress across school psychologists is remarkably high—especially in the area associated with having a heavy workload. Additional research with more racially and ethnically diverse samples of school psychologists would enhance confidence in using the SPDI as a measure of distress. Results suggest an urgent need to address structural influences on stress and personal coping strategies employed by school psychologists.