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Classroom Interactions, Dyadic Teacher–Child Relationships, and Self–Regulation in Socially Disadvantaged Young Children

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Abstract

This study examined the quality of the classroom climate and dyadic teacher–child relationships as predictors of self–regulation in a sample of socially disadvantaged preschool children (N = 206; 52 % boys). Children’s self–regulation was observed in preschool at the beginning and at the end of the school year. At the middle of the preschool year, classroom observations of interactions were conducted by trained observers and teachers rated the quality of dyadic teacher–child relationships. Results from multilevel analyses revealed that teacher–child closeness predicted improvements in observed self–regulation skills. Children showed larger gains in self–regulation when they experienced closer teacher–child relationships. Moreover, a moderating effect between classroom instructional quality and observed self–regulation was found such that children with low initial self–regulation skills benefit the most from classrooms with higher classroom quality. Findings have implications for understanding the role of classroom social processes on the development of self–regulation.

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Acknowledgments

This research was supported by FEDER, COMPETE program, and by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology, PTDC/MHC-CED/5218/2012 and SFRH/BPD/77184/2011 grants.

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There are no conflicts of interest to report for any study authors.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, University of Porto, Rua Alfredo Allen, 4200-135, Porto, Portugal

    Joana Cadima, Teresa Leal & Carolina Guedes

  2. Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium

    Karine Verschueren

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  1. Joana Cadima
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  2. Karine Verschueren
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  3. Teresa Leal
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  4. Carolina Guedes
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Correspondence to Joana Cadima.

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Cadima, J., Verschueren, K., Leal, T. et al. Classroom Interactions, Dyadic Teacher–Child Relationships, and Self–Regulation in Socially Disadvantaged Young Children. J Abnorm Child Psychol 44, 7–17 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10802-015-0060-5

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