Inattention among kindergarteners associated with lower adult salary

Reviewed by James Ives, M.Psych. (Editor)Jun 20 2019

Inattention among kindergarteners was associated with lower earnings as adults in this study based on behavioral ratings from kindergarten teachers for 2,850 children in Canada at ages 5 or 6 and government tax returns for those same children as adults at ages 33 to 35.

Researchers report that after accounting for IQ and family background, kindergarten inattention was associated with lower earning for boys and girls later in life, while kindergarten ratings of aggression and opposition (disobeying, refusing to share, blaming others) were associated with lower earnings only for boys. The results suggest early monitoring and support for children demonstrating certain behaviors could have long-term benefits. A limitation of the study is that it shows only associations and causal inferences can't be made.