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What Effect Does Classroom Separation Have on Twins' Behavior, Progress at School, and Reading Abilities?

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  21 February 2012

Lucy A. Tully ,
Terrie E. Moffitt ,
Avshalom Caspi ,
Alan Taylor ,
Helena Kiernan  and
Penny Andreou
Lucy A. Tully*
Affiliation:
Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London, UK. [email protected].
Terrie E. Moffitt
Affiliation:
Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London, UK; University of Wisconsin, Madison, USA.
Avshalom Caspi
Affiliation:
Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London, UK; University of Wisconsin, Madison, USA.
Alan Taylor
Affiliation:
Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London, UK.
Helena Kiernan
Affiliation:
Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London, UK.
Penny Andreou
Affiliation:
Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London, UK.
*
*Address for correspondence: Professor Terrie E. Moffitt, Box Number P080, SGDPR Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, De Crespigny Park, London SE5 8AF, England.

Abstract

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We investigated the effects of classroom separation on twins' behavior, progress at school, and reading abilities. This investigation was part of a longitudinal study of a nationally-representative sample of twins (the E-risk Study) who were assessed at the start of school (age 5) and followed up (age 7). We examined three groups of twins: pairs who were in the same class at both ages; pairs who were in separate classes at both ages; and pairs who were in the same class at age 5, but separated by age 7. When compared to those not separated, those separated early had significantly more teacher-rated internalizing problems and those separated later showed more internalizing problems and lower reading scores. Monozygotic (MZ) twins showed more problems as a result of separation than dizygotic (DZ) twins. No group differences emerged for externalizing problems, ADHD or prosocial behaviors. The implications of the findings for parents and teachers of twins, and for school practices about separating twins, are discussed.

Type
Articles
Information
Twin Research and Human Genetics , Volume 7 , Issue 2 , 01 April 2004 , pp. 115 - 124
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2004