1. Objectifs

Intentions :
The objective of this study was to « [...] to examine the relevance of family structures to trajectories of parental reports on hyperactivity-inattention among elementary school aged children. » (p. 85)

2. Méthode

Échantillon/Matériau :
Human Resources Development Canada and Statistics Canada (1996) designed the National Longitudinal Survey of Children and Youth (NLSCY) to measure child development and well-being. This study uses a sub-sample of the NLSCY. As the authors said, « [...] we focused on those aged 4–5 in 1994 because the exact same survey items on child outcomes were available for this cohort in 1994, 1996, 1998, and 2000. With extensive efforts to minimize attrition, some 92.1% of the children in the 1994 cohort were traced and successfully re-interviewed. The final sample therefore included 1,902 children with consistent measures across all four cycles. » (p. 85)

Instruments :
Questionnaire

Type de traitement des données :
Analyse statistique

3. Résumé

« We use a latent growth modeling approach to compare children living in intact families, lone-parent families, stepfamilies, and families where parents divorced or separated. The results highlight the apparent advantages to living in intact families and the slightly greater risks experienced by children living in stepfamilies. Children in lone-parent families, while experiencing an initial disadvantage, displayed a similar trajectory on hyperactivity to children in intact families over the 1994–2000 period. With regard to the children of divorce, the current study finds little evidence of a pre-disruption effect, as the children whose parents divorce or separate over 1994–2000 appear initially no worse off than children whose parents stay together. » (p. 85)