@article{ref1,
title="Maximizing the potential of early childhood education to prevent externalizing behavior problems: a meta-analysis",
journal="Journal of school psychology",
year="2015",
author="Schindler, Holly S. and Kholoptseva, Jenya and Oh, Soojin S. and Yoshikawa, Hirokazu and Duncan, Greg J. and Magnuson, Katherine A. and Shonkoff, Jack P.",
volume="53",
number="3",
pages="243-263",
abstract="Early childhood education (ECE) programs offer a promising mechanism for preventing early externalizing behavior problems and later antisocial behavior; yet, questions remain about how to best maximize ECE's potential. Using a meta-analytic database of 31 studies, we examined the overall effect of ECE on externalizing behavior problems and the differential effects of 3 levels of practice, each with increasing specificity and intensity aimed at children's social and emotional development. In short, we found that each successive level of programs did a better job than the prior level at reducing externalizing behavior problems. Level 1 programs, or those without a clear focus on social and emotional development, had no significant effects on externalizing behavior problems relative to control groups (ES=.13 SD, p<.10). On the other hand, level 2 programs, or those with a clear but broad focus on social and emotional development, were significantly associated with modest decreases in externalizing behavior problems relative to control groups (ES=-.10 SD, p<.05). Hence, level 2 programs were significantly better at reducing externalizing behavior problems than level 1 programs (ES=-.23 SD, p<.01). Level 3 programs, or those that more intensively targeted children's social and emotional development, were associated with additional significant reductions in externalizing behavior problems relative to level 2 programs (ES=-.26 SD, p<.05). The most promising effects came from level 3 child social skills training programs, which reduced externalizing behavior problems half of a standard deviation more than level 2 programs (ES=-.50 SD, p<.05).<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0022-4405",
doi="10.1016/j.jsp.2015.04.001",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jsp.2015.04.001"
}