Predictors of Grade Retention in Children and Adolescents with Sickle Cell Disease

Abstract

This study examined the predictive value of sex, socioeconomic status (SES), disease severity, family achievement-orientation, and family relationship quality for predicting grade retention in children and adolescents with sickle cell disease (SCD). Additionally, this study investigated the extent to which family achievement-orientation and family relationship quality moderated relationships between the other predictor variables and grade retention. Data were extracted from a nationally representative database, the Cooperative Study of Sickle Cell Disease. Participants included 185 children and adolescents with SCD ranging in age from 7-16 years old. Older age and poorer reading achievement were significant predictors of grade retention. In addition, it was found that family achievement-orientation moderated the relationship between age and grade retention, such that high family achievement-orientation buffered against the negative effects of older age on grade retention. Additional research should study the influence of other dimensions of family functioning on grade retention and as a protective factor against other factors. Clinical implications include the identified need for psychosocial interventions that promote achievement-orientation in family members of children and adolescents with SCD.