Are Withdrawn Children At Risk?

Abstract

The evidence is fairly conclusive that aggressive children are at risk for a number of disordered outcomes. However withdrawn children are considered to be at no greater risk for maladjustment than normal children. The present study assessed the validity of this conclusion. Participants were 131 grade 7 students identified by their peers as aggressive, withdrawn, sociable, or average. On the mental health measures administered it was demonstrated that withdrawn children were at as great or greater risk for the presence of problems as aggressive children. The difference was that withdrawn children evidenced problems of an internalizing nature, whereas aggressive children presented with externalizing problems. The implication of this finding for the choice of measures to identify at risk students is discussed.

L'evidence suggère que les enfants agressifs sont susceptibles à un aboutissement déséquilibre. Cependant les enfants renfermés ne semblent pas être plus susceptibles à un ajustement anormal que les enfants ordinaires. Cette étude appuie la validité d'une telle conclusion. Les sujets de l'étude étaient 131 élèves de la 7e année identifiés par leurs pairs comme étant agressifs, renfermés, sociables, ou moyens. Au niveau de la santé mentale , il a été démontré que les enfants renfermés étaient aussi suspectibles ou plus susceptibles à la présence d'un problème que les enfants agressifs. La différence était que les enfants renfermés éprouvaiant des problèmes de nature interne, tandis que les enfants agressifs démontraient des difficultés externes. Cette découverte aura un retentissment dans le choix de méthode d'identification des élèves en danger.

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