1. Child maltreatment and household dysfunction were associated with poorer academic skills and behavior at the kindergarten age.
2. Exposure to a greater number of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) was associated with a higher likelihood of poor kindergarten outcomes.
Evidence Rating Level: 2 (Good)
Study Rundown: Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), such as child maltreatment and household dysfunction, have previously been associated with poor health outcomes in older children and adults. This study examined a portion of an urban birth cohort from so-called “fragile families”, a large majority of which have unmarried parents. Kindergarten teachers provided ratings of academic skills, literacy skills, and behavior. Children with exposure to ACEs were more likely to have below-average academic skills and literacy skills. Furthermore, they were more likely to have behavioral difficulties, including attention problems, social problems, and aggression. While the study examined a fairly large number of children, it was limited by its focus on only urban, at-risk families. It also relies on maternal recollection and reporting of ACEs during interviews when the child was 5 years of age. In addition, there was no formal, direct observation of academic or behavioral skills, as teacher reporting was used as the metric. Nonetheless, the association of ACEs with poor educational achievement as well as previously-studied poor health outcomes underscores the need for physicians and other professionals to focus efforts on at-risk children.
[For more of this story, written by James Gray and Cordelia Ross, go to http://www.2minutemedicine.com...ndergarten-outcomes/]
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