Kindergarten Predictors of Recurring Externalizing and Internalizing Psychopathology in the Third and Fifth Grades

This study evaluated the extent to which a range of risk factors (e.g., gender, race/ethnicity, low socioeconomic status) predicted kindergarten children's likelihood of later displaying recurring psychopathology. It used multilevel logistic regression to analyze teacher ratings of frequent and recurring externalizing and internalizing problem behaviors in a longitudinal sample of 4,674 children participating in the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study-Kindergarten Cohort, 1998-1999. Results indicated that those most at risk of displaying externalizing problem behaviors in both the third and fifth grade are those entering school already displaying high levels of these behaviors, as well as those displaying low reading readiness. Hispanics are at reduced risk of such problem behaviors. Those most at risk of displaying internalizing behavior problems in the third and fifth grades are those entering kindergarten with such problems and those displaying inattention and other learning-related behavior problems. Asian children are at reduced risk of recurring internalizing behavior problems. Females and children from higher SES families are at reduced risk for both types of psychopathology.