Exploring the Relationship Between Reading and Behavior Problems in Elementary-Aged Children

Reading and behavior difficulties have long been linked in the literature, with each problem having an adverse effect on students’ academic success when experienced individually and in combination. Given that the problems are closely linked and lead to unfavorable outcomes for students, it is important for researchers to understand how each problem influences the development and potential mitigation of the other problem. This dissertation includes four chapters. Chapter One is a review of reading challenges, internalizing and externalizing behavior difficulties, and the association between the two problems. Chapter Two describes a study in which the impact of externalizing and internalizing behavior problems on reading remediation was investigated. Chapter Three describes a study in which the developmental timeline of reading and behavior problems (e.g., which came first) was traced in elementary-aged students. Chapter Four discusses the implications, limitations, and future research directions related to the study of concurrent reading and behavior problems.