A1 Journal article (refereed)
Early temperament and age at school entry predict task avoidance in elementary school (2016)

Hirvonen, Riikka; Torppa, Minna; Nurmi, Jari-Erik; Eklund, Kenneth; Ahonen, Timo (2016). Early temperament and age at school entry predict task avoidance in elementary school. Learning and Individual Differences, 47 (0), 1-10. DOI: 10.1016/j.lindif.2015.12.012

JYU authors or editors

Publication details

All authors or editors: Hirvonen, Riikka; Torppa, Minna; Nurmi, Jari-Erik; Eklund, Kenneth; Ahonen, Timo

Journal or series: Learning and Individual Differences

ISSN: 1041-6080

eISSN: 1873-3425

Publication year: 2016

Volume: 47

Issue number: 0

Pages range: 1-10

Publisher: Pergamon

Publication country: Netherlands

Publication language: English

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lindif.2015.12.012

Open Access: Publication channel is not openly available

Publication is parallel published (JYX): https://jyx.jyu.fi/handle/123456789/48391

Additional information: Lehdellä vain volyyminumerointi.

Abstract

This study examined the role of temperament, prereading skills, and age at school entry in the development of Finnish children's task avoidance. Teachers rated the task-avoidant behavior of 198 participants in kindergarten and twice in Grades 2 and 3. Parents rated the children's temperament at age 3 and children's prereading skills were measured at age 5. The results showed that, on average, the level of children's task avoidance remained the same from kindergarten to Grade 2 fall, but decreased from Grade 2 fall to Grade 3 spring. A low task avoidance level was predicted by good prereading skills, high effortful control, and high negative affectivity. Low surgency predicted a decrease in task avoidance from kindergarten to Grade 2 fall, whereas high negative affectivity predicted a decrease from Grade 2 fall to Grade 3 spring. Finally, task avoidance of the oldest children in the classrooms decreased more from kindergarten to Grade 2 fall, whereas younger children's task avoidance decreased particularly from Grade 2 fall onward.

Keywords: lower comprehensive school pupils; temperament; learning difficulties; elementary education; literacy

Free keywords: elementary school; prereading skills; school entry; task avoidance

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Ministry reporting: Yes

Reporting Year: 2016

JUFO rating: 2