The relationship between children's emotional and behavioral problems and the social responses of elementary school teachers

This study examined the relationship between children's emotional and behav ioral problems and teachers' social responding. Elementary school students completed the Children's Depression Inventory and a parent completed the Ch ild Behavior Checklist. Teachers rated children on measures of interpersona l attractiveness and personal rejection. Teachers' ratings of student inter personal attractiveness were significantly correlated with the level of stu dent depression, internalizing problems, externalizing problems, and overal l psychopathology. However, teachers' ratings of personal rejection toward students only correlated with externalizing behavior problems. Family incom e was also related to child adjustment and teacher ratings. Externalizing b ehavior problems best predicted both lower interpersonal attractiveness and increased personal rejection, even after controlling for family income. (C ) 1999 Academic Press.