Children with Behavioral Problems in the First Grade of Russian School : Similarities and Differences

Recent research indicates that behavioral problems may lead to low academic performance. The present study is aimed to discover, what differences exist between primary school students who meet a sufficient number of ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) criteria and those who do not experience any behavioral problems, in terms of academic achievements in reading and mathematics, annual progress in these subjects and personal, social and emotional development, based on the Russian sample of first-graders. This paper is a part of Russian iPIPS project and the instruments developed as part of this study were used. The sample consists of 3021 first-graders from two big regions of the Russian Federation.The results showed significant differences in both cognitive and social-emotional development but no differences in annual progress. The absence of differences in progress means that the development of children with behavior problems within the school system goes with the same speed but from the lower start level compared to other children. The results of the study provide important knowledge for the teachers and open a large area of further investigations in the field of ADHD in Russian school settings