Teacher-child interactions. Relations with children's self-concept in second grade

This study examined whether teacher-child interactions characterized by teacher involvement, structure, and autonomy support at the beginning of second grade predicted children's global, academic, social, and behavioural self-concept at the end of second grade. The study was conducted in 30 second grade classrooms with 570 children and their teachers. Data included teacher reports of teacher-child interactions and child reports of self-concept. Results showed that, when controlling for the initial level of self-concept, children's social self-concept was predicted by teacher involvement, structure, and autonomy support. In addition, teacher autonomy support predicted high academic self-concept. Finally, these teacher-child interaction characteristics did not contribute to the behavioural and global self-concept. The results were similar for boys and girls. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.status: publishe