Relationships across the elementary years: Association with children's social-behavioral skills

• Published in: Journal of applied developmental psychology 2024-11, Vol.95, p.101718, Article 101718
• Main Authors: Sheridan, Susan M., Knoche, Lisa L., Koziol, Natalie, Witte, Amanda L., Stadheim, Jenna, Spradlin, Cassidy A., Iruka, Iheoma U.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Developmental trajectories; Elementary grades; Parent-teacher relationships; Prosocial behavior; Student-teacher relationships
• ISSN: 0193-3973
• DOI: 10.1016/j.appdev.2024.101718

Students' social-behavioral competencies are foundational to development. This longitudinal study identified associations between parent-teacher and student-teacher relationships, and children's social skills and problem behaviors at a single timepoint and over time. It involved 316 students and their parents and teachers across Grades 1 through 4. Several significant associations were uncovered, generally consistent with hypotheses. Parents' and teachers' reports of the parent-teacher relationship at one point in time were associated with their own ratings of students' social-behavioral outcomes. Across grades, parents' reports of the parent-teacher relationship were associated with their own ratings of students' outcomes. Teachers' reports of parent-teacher relationships were associated with children's overall social-behavioral outcomes as reported by parents and teachers. Teacher-rated student-teacher relationships at one timepoint were associated with their own ratings but not parents' ratings of student behaviors. Teacher-reported student-teacher relationships over time were associated with students' outcomes as rated by parents and teachers. Implications are discussed. •Parent-teacher relationships are positively related to children's social skills.•Parent-teacher relationships are negatively related to problem behaviors.•Student-teacher closeness is positively associated with children's social skills.•Student-teacher conflict is positively associated with problem behaviors.•Associations to skills are evident at one point in time and across Grades 1 to 4.