The role of child gender and ethnicity in teacher-child relationship quality and children's behavioral adjustment in preschool

The present study examined the role of child gender, child ethnicity, and teacher-child ethnic match in moderating the association between teacher-child relationship quality and children's classroom behavioral adjustment. The study was conducted using data from an ethnically diverse sample of 301 Head Start children and their teachers. Teacher-child conflict was found to be a stronger predictor of hostile-aggressive behavior for boys than girls. In contrast, teacher-child closeness was found to be more predictive of school competence for girls than boys. Similar patterns of association were found between teacher-child relationship quality and school behavioral adjustment for Non-Hispanic, white children and those of Mexican-origin. Results also revealed that teacher-child ethnic match did not moderate the association between teacher-child relationship quality and child behavioral adjustment.