ATL

Pupils worried about parents' relationship 'display attention deficit'

16 September 2008

Children who are concerned about their parents arguing with each other are more likely to have problems at school, according to a new study.

Published in the journal Child Development, it suggests that these pupils find it more difficult to pay attention in class, thereby hindering their educational development.

Researchers at the University of Rochester, Syracuse University and the University of Notre Dame studied 216 six-year-olds who were predominantly white.

And following teachers' reports about their behaviour, they found that those who were worried about their parents' relationship showed evidence of more attention problems, as well as more difficulty in adjusting to school.

Professor of psychology at the University of Rochester and the lead author of the study Patrick Davies highlighted the issue as one of importance, calling on schools to implement programmes to 'help strengthen children's ability to pay attention'.

The government yesterday suggested that parents cooperate more with teachers to help improve their children's behaviour.