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.