Examining protective factors and risk factors in urban and rural head start Preschoolers

This study examined a comprehensive screening model within children attending Head Start programs from urban (n =232) and rural (n = 231) communities. The Devereux Early Childhood Assessment (DECA; LeBuffe & Naglieri, 1999) was used to measure social-emotional protective factors (i.e., Total Protective Factors [TPF]) and risk factors (i.e., Behavior Concerns [BC]) within children that resided in two different community settings. Children from low-income rural programs received higher scores on a subscale measuring children's relationship to adults (i.e., Attachment subscale). Additionally, children from low-income urban programs received higher scores on children's ability to self-regulate (i.e., Self-Control subscale). Significant differences between children from rural and urban settings were not found on the primary scales (BC or TPF) of the DECA. Statistically significant gender differences by community-type were not found. Findings contribute to the literature by illustrating that community characteristics might influence the development of different social-emotional behaviors in preschool children.