Prediction of Adjustment from Preschool to Middle Childhood

Abstract

This study identified predictor variables associated with outcome in middle childhood in a clinical preschool sample. These variables were examined in relation to functional level at outcome. At Time 1 the sample consisted of 129 children admitted to a psychiatric preschool program; 82 of these children comprised the follow-up sample at Time 2. The results indicated that the variables significantly associated with each child's outcome were IQ, the presence of diagnosis at Time 1 and the length of time each child was in the treatment program. Different predictors were important for different outcomes and a given predictor variable was not equally salient across all levels of outcome.