Megan M. McClelland|Alan C. Acock|Andrea M. Piccinin|Sally Ann Rhea|Michael C. Stallings
Relations between preschool attention span-persistence and age 25 educational outcomes
Oregon State University|Oregon State University|University of Victoria|University of Colorado System|University of Colorado System
study examined relations childrens attention spanpersistence preschool later school achievement college completion children drawn colorado adoption project using adopted nonadopted children n 430 results structural equation modeling indicated childrens age 4 attention spanpersistence significantly predicted math reading achievement age 21 controlling achievement levels age 7 adopted status child vocabulary skills gender maternal education level relations attention spanpersistence later achievement fully mediated age 7 achievement levels logistic regressions also revealed age 4 attention spanpersistence skills significantly predicted odds completing college age 25 majority relationship direct significantly mediated math reading skills age 7 age 21 specifically children rated one standard deviation higher attention spanpersistence age 4 487 greater odds completing college age 25 discussion focuses importance childrens early attention spanpersistence later school achievement educational attainment