Children's behavior problems and social skills: a longitudinal study / Indicativos de problemas de comportamento e de habilidades sociais em crianças: um estudo longitudinal

Abstract

The aim of this study was to assess the development of children whose primary teachers believed they had behavioral problems (IPC Group) compared to socially skilled children (ICSH Group). They were assessed in two occasions: when they were five years old and when they were 10 years old. Forty-eight teachers and 62 children of both genders participated in the study. The instruments used were the Teacher's Questionnaire for Socially Skilled Responses and the Child Behavior Scale B. In the results, the IPC Group showed a decrease of behavior problems and an increase in socially appropriate behavior. The groups were quite different in the first assessment, but their behaviors became more similar in elementary school. In both assessments, children in ICSH Group were assessed as more socially skilled.

Keywords

• Social skills
• Behavior problem
• Child development