Journal of School Psychology
Volume 50, Issue 2, 2012, Pages 195-213

Links between local language competence and peer relations among Swiss and immigrant children: The mediating role of social behavior (Article)

von Grünigen R. , Kochenderfer-Ladd B.* , Perren S. , Alsaker F.D.
  • a Department of Psychology, University of Berne, Switzerland
  • b School of Social and Family Dynamics, Arizona State University, United States
  • c Jacobs Center for Productive Youth Development, University of Zürich, Switzerland
  • d Department of Psychology, University of Berne, Switzerland

Abstract

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. © 2011.

Author Keywords

Peer victimization Social behavior peer relations Language competence Immigration Kindergarten

Index Keywords

Models, Psychological longitudinal study psychological model Interpersonal Relations psychological aspect Communication interpersonal communication human Longitudinal Studies Schools language child behavior human relation Humans male Emigrants and Immigrants Acculturation preschool child female Child, Preschool cultural factor school peer group Article migration Switzerland social behavior Child
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84857645500&doi=10.1016%2fj.jsp.2011.09.005&partnerID=40&md5=b34b93ad76d42d257981ac93ef93e751
DOI: 10.1016/j.jsp.2011.09.005
ISSN: 00224405
Cited by: 15
Original Language: English