TY - JOUR
T1 - Links between local language competence and peer relations among Swiss and immigrant children
T2 - The mediating role of social behavior
AU - von Grünigen, Renate
AU - Ladd, Becky
AU - Perren, Sonja
AU - Alsaker, Françoise D.
N1 - Funding Information:
This study was supported by a grant from the Swiss National Science Foundation (National Research Programme 52, “Childhood, Youth and Intergenerational Relationships” Grant-No. 4052-69011 ) to the last author.
PY - 2012/4
Y1 - 2012/4
N2 - The primary aim of this investigation was to evaluate a model in which children's social behaviors, including prosocial behavior, setting limits, and social withdrawal, were hypothesized to mediate the links between local language competence (LLC) and peer acceptance and victimization. Longitudinal data were collected via teacher and peer reports on 541 (286 boys and 255 girls) immigrant and Swiss native 5-to-6. year-old kindergarteners. Results showed the immigrant children were less fluent in the local language compared to native Swiss classmates. Moreover, results from structural equation models, with bootstrap tests of indirect effects, indicated that social behaviors mediated the link between LLC and the quality of children's peer relationships. Implications of these findings for school professionals are discussed, such as the need to help immigrant children make a smoother transition to their host communities by providing additional language and social supports while children acculturate and acclimate to their new surroundings and peer group.
AB - The primary aim of this investigation was to evaluate a model in which children's social behaviors, including prosocial behavior, setting limits, and social withdrawal, were hypothesized to mediate the links between local language competence (LLC) and peer acceptance and victimization. Longitudinal data were collected via teacher and peer reports on 541 (286 boys and 255 girls) immigrant and Swiss native 5-to-6. year-old kindergarteners. Results showed the immigrant children were less fluent in the local language compared to native Swiss classmates. Moreover, results from structural equation models, with bootstrap tests of indirect effects, indicated that social behaviors mediated the link between LLC and the quality of children's peer relationships. Implications of these findings for school professionals are discussed, such as the need to help immigrant children make a smoother transition to their host communities by providing additional language and social supports while children acculturate and acclimate to their new surroundings and peer group.
KW - Immigration
KW - Kindergarten
KW - Language competence
KW - Peer relations
KW - Peer victimization
KW - Social behavior
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U2 - 10.1016/j.jsp.2011.09.005
DO - 10.1016/j.jsp.2011.09.005
M3 - Article
C2 - 22386120
AN - SCOPUS:84857645500
SN - 0022-4405
VL - 50
SP - 195
EP - 213
JO - Journal of School Psychology
JF - Journal of School Psychology
IS - 2
ER -