Browsing by Author "Rudasill, K. M."

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Open Access
Early teacher–child relationships promote self-regulation development in prekindergarten
(MDPI, 2022-07) Rudasill, K. M.; Acar, İbrahim Hakkı; Psychology; ACAR, Ibrahim Hakkı
Children’s experiences during the prekindergarten period are critical for shaping their emerging self-regulation skills. The purpose of this study was to examine the contribution of teacher–child relationship quality to children’s performance on a self-regulation task at the end of prekindergarten. Teachers rated the conflict, closeness, and dependency in their relationships with 104 children in the fall of prekindergarten, and children’s self-regulation was independently measured with a visual attention task in the spring of prekindergarten. In addition, teachers and parents rated children’s temperamental self-regulation (i.e., effortful control). Results indicate that greater teacher–child dependency predicted children’s longer time on the visual attention task, and greater teacher–child closeness predicted children’s lower accuracy on the visual attention task. In addition, children who were rated as more self-regulated by parents were more accurate on the visual attention task. The implications of the results are discussed.
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Pathways to low-income children’s self-regulation: Child temperament and the qualities of teacher–child relationships
(Taylor & Francis, 2020-11) Acar, İbrahim Hakkı; Torquati, J. C.; Raikes, H.; Rudasill, K. M.; Psychology; ACAR, Ibrahim Hakkı
Research Findings: We examined low-income children's temperament (regulatory and reactive) as a predictor of their self-regulation, and teacher-child relationship (closeness and conflict) as a moderator of associations between child temperament and selfregulation. This study involved 291 children (132 girls) (Mage = 53.88 months, SD = 6.44 months) from three EduCare programs. Parents reported on children's temperament and teachers reported on qualities of teacher-child relationships during fall. Direct assessments of self-regulation were conducted during the following spring and summer. Hierarchical regression models using SAS PROCMIXED were employed to account for nesting of children within classrooms. Bivariate analyses revealed that teacher-child closeness was positively associated with children's self-regulation, and teacher-child conflict was inversely associated with children's self-regulation. After controlling for demographic variables, regression analyses showed that higher levels of conflict combined with lower temperamental regulation was related to lower self-regulation. Lower levels of child temperamental regulation was related to higher self-regulation when teacher-child conflict was low. Practice and Policy: Findings suggest that reducing conflictual teacher-child conflict could be beneficial for children's selfregulation, particularly for children with low regulatory temperament. A focus on enhancing teacher self-regulation, for example, through mindfulness practices, is a promising approach to reducing teacher-child conflict.
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Preschool children’s self-regulation and learning behaviors: The moderating role of teacher–child relationship
(Springer, 2022-02) Acar, İbrahim Hakkı; Veziroglu-Celik, M.; Rudasill, K. M.; Sealy, M. A.; Psychology; ACAR, Ibrahim Hakkı
Background Children's approach to learning is essential for both academic achievement and socio-emotional well-being. This competence is influenced by both individual (self-regulation) and environmental factors (teacher-child relationships). Objective The aim of the present study is to examine Turkish children's learning behaviors through the interplay of children's self-regulation and teacher-child relationship. In particular, we examine the moderating role of teacher-child relationship quality on the link between self-regulation and learning behaviors. Method Participants were 140 preschool children (81 boys) from a disadvantaged neighborhood in Istanbul, Turkey. Children's age ranged from 39 to 77 months (M = 62.55, SD = 8.53). Teachers reported on teacher-child relationship quality and children's learning behaviors. We assessed children's self-regulation via structured performance-based tasks. Results Regression results using SAS PROC MIXED showed: first, the combination of high teacher-child closeness and hot self-regulation was related to higher levels of learning behaviors. Second, teacher closeness was positively, and teacher conflict was negatively associated with children's learning behaviors. Third, cool and hot aspects of self-regulation were related to children's learning behaviors; this was true only for cool aspects of self-regulation in multivariate analyses. Conclusions Children's self-regulation (hot and cool aspects) and the qualities of teacher-child relationships appear to be important for their approaches to learning. Findings from the current study provide additional support for individual-context interaction for child outcomes in the Turkish preschool educational context.
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The synergy of teacher-child dependency and temperament for children’s early language skills
(Taylor & Francis, 2019-07-04) Rudasill, K. M.; Acar, İbrahim Hakkı; Psychology; ACAR, Ibrahim Hakkı
Shy children are less likely to interact with peers and teachers, ask questions, and participate in classroom activities. Children low in attention and inhibitory control also perform worse academically. Although research indicates children's relationships with teachers may be protective for children at risk for academic difficulties, less is known about the role of dependent teacher-child relationships and the consequences for learning. This study examines the interplay of inhibitory control, attention, shyness, and dependency as predictors of preschoolers' expressive- and receptive-language skills. The sample is 104 children in 22 classrooms. Research Findings: Multilevel models revealed four findings. First, both parent and teacher ratings of children's attention were positively associated with language skills. Second, the association between teacher ratings of shyness and children's language skills was contingent on the level of teacher-child dependency. Third, teacher-child dependency was positively linked to more expressive-language skills in the teacher-report model. Fourth, dependency and inhibitory control worked synergistically in the parent-report model to predict expressive language. Results suggest that dependency may have protective aspects for some children in early childhood but could also be negative for other children. Practice and Policy: Teachers can organize their relationship style depending on child'stemperament to provide nurturing environment for children's language skills.
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Temperament and social adjustment in first grade: the moderating role of teacher sensitivity
(Taylor & Francis, 2021) Frohn, S. R.; Acar, İbrahim Hakkı; Rudasill, K. M.; Buhs, E. S.; Perez-Gonzalez, S.; Psychology; ACAR, Ibrahim Hakkı
The present study examined teacher sensitivity as a potential moderator of the relationship between children's temperament in infancy and their social development in first grade. Using data from the Study of Early Child Care and Youth Development (NICHD SECCYD), we found that first grade teachers who were sensitive and responsive to students' individual needs tended to have a buffering effect against poor peer interactions during unstructured play for children with difficult temperament. Furthermore, for children low in temperamental approach, greater teacher sensitivity was linked to more positive peer interactions. Greater teacher sensitivity was also related to fewer negative peer interactions for children rated high in negative affect and low in adaptability. Our findings suggest teacher sensitivity is an important factor in young children's social development, and may be particularly beneficial to children at temperamental risk for poor social adjustment.