Le processus d’enseignement ne se limite pas à un ensemble de méthodes pédagogiques à appliquer et de contenus programmés à transmettre. Il se déploie également dans la construction par l’enseignant d’une relation pédagogique avec ses élèves. Cette relation est considérée comme étant optimale lorsqu’elle est caractérisée par un niveau élevé de chaleur et un faible niveau de conflits. Plusieurs études démontrent l’existence de liens significatifs entre la qualité de cette relation et les différents indicateurs d’adaptation à l’école. En général, les résultats des études démontrent l’influence positive d’une relation élève-enseignant chaleureuse sur le comportement des élèves, leur réussite scolaire ainsi que sur leurs sentiments et attitudes envers l’école. Certaines recherches soulignent également que l’incidence de la qualité de la relation élève-enseignant est particulièrement importante pour les élèves considérés à risque en raison de présence chez eux des certains facteurs de vulnérabilité tels que la pauvreté (facteurs sociaux), la relation parent-enfant difficile (facteurs familiaux) ou le manque d’habiletés sociales (facteurs individuels). La majorité de recherches ne permet toutefois pas de déterminer quels sont précisément les aspects de cette relation qui influencent significativement la qualité de la relation entre l’enseignant et ses élèves. Souhaitant pallier cette lacune, la présente étude poursuit deux objectifs : 1) examiner le lien entre les perceptions des élèves de niveau secondaire considérés à risque concernant les différents aspects de la qualité de la relation élève-enseignant et les problèmes de comportement extériorisés ; 2) vérifier si ce lien évolue avec le temps. Afin d’atteindre ces objectifs, nous avons pris en considération deux dimensions qui permettent de qualifier les profils de la relation élève-enseignant, soit la chaleur et les conflits (Pianta, 1992). La classification de ces deux dimensions en fonction de leur pôle positif et négatif permet de distinguer quatre profils relationnels que l’élève est susceptible d’établir avec ses enseignants soient le profil dit chaleureux, controversé, négligent ou conflictuel. II Cette étude repose sur un devis longitudinal grâce aux données recueillies dans le cadre de l’évaluation de la stratégie d’intervention Agir Autrement réalisée entre 2002 et 2008 (SIAA). Il s’agit donc ici d’analyses secondaires menées sur un échantillon aléatoire tiré de cette vaste recherche. Un échantillon de 563 élèves de 1re secondaire incluant 273 filles et 290 garçons a été constitué. Les analyses ont été effectuées auprès de ces élèves alors qu’ils étaient en premier et en cinquième année de secondaire ce qui a permis d’observer les changements dans le comportement des élèves à risque en fonction de la qualité de la relation élève-enseignant. De façon générale, les résultats obtenus montrent que les liens entre les différents profils de la relation élève-enseignant et les problèmes de comportement extériorisés sont fort complexes et loin d’être univoques. En particulier, ces résultats permettent de constater que le profil chaleureux représente le profil relationnel le moins associé aux problèmes de comportement extériorisés chez les élèves à risque et ce, autant en première qu’en cinquième secondaire. Selon nos résultats, les profils conflictuel et controversé sont significativement liés aux problèmes de comportement extériorisés chez les élèves à risque de 1re secondaire et de 5e secondaire. En ce qui a trait au profil négligent, les résultats de la présente recherche montrent l’existence d’un lien corrélationnel entre ce profil relationnel et les problèmes de comportement extériorisés. Toutefois, la force de l’association s’est avérée plus significative pour les élèves à risque en 5e secondaire secondaire comparativement aux mêmes élèves alors qu’ils étaient en 1re secondaire. Finalement, l’ensemble de résultats obtenus montre que les profils relationnels restent relativement stables dans le temps, tandis que la fréquence de comportements problématiques tels que le vol grave et la consommation de psychotropes augmentent d’une manière significative. De plus, les résultats que nous avons obtenus montrent l’existence d’un lien entre la dimension de conflits de la relation élève-enseignant et la consommation de substances psychotropes chez les élèves de notre échantillon. La présente recherche permet de constater que la dimension de conflits est aussi importante dans la relation élève-enseignant que la dimension de la chaleur, car les III conflits agiraient comme facteurs de risque pouvant augmenter la fréquence de problèmes de comportement extériorisés chez les élèves de secondaire considérés à risque. Ainsi, la réduction de niveau de conflits dans la relation entre les élèves et leurs enseignants peut jouer un rôle important en termes de prévention de ce type de problèmes chez les élèves de niveau secondaire. / Appling pedagogical methods and transmitting programmed material is not sufficient to define the complexity of teaching. The pedagogical relationship built by the teacher with his or her students is another important and necessary component. This relationship is considered optimal when it has a high level of warmth and a low level of conflicts. Previous studies demonstrate significant links between the quality of this relationship and different indicators of school-adaptations. In general, the reports reveal that a warm student-teacher relationship has a positive impact on student behaviour, academic success as well as feelings and attitudes toward school. Furthermore, the quality of student-teacher relationship has an even greater effect on students considered at risk. This student category is characterised by the presence of vulnerability factors such as poverty (social factors), difficult parent-child relationship (family factors) or a lack of social skills (individual factors). Majority of research done on student-teacher relationship does not specify which aspects in particular have a significant influence on its overall quality. In order to address this issue, two goals are aimed by the present study: 1) examine the relationship between perceptions of high school students considered at risk for various aspects of the quality of the student-teacher relationship and externalizing behavior problems; 2) verification if this link evolves over time. In our work, the type of student-teacher relationship is categorized by two dimensions: the warmth and the conflicts (Pianta, 1992). The classification according to the positive or negative pole of each dimension enables to distinguish between four types of relations the student is prone to establish with his or her teachers: either warm, controversial, negligent or conflict. A random sample of the data collected in 2002-2008 during the evaluation of intervention strategy Agir Autrement (Act Differently) (SIAA) is used in the present longitudinal study. It is composed of 563 high school students: 273 girls and 290 boys. V Secondary analyses are made on the data collected on the same students during their first and fifth year. This approach gives the opportunity to observe the changes in student behaviour as function of student-teacher relationship quality. In general, our results show a high complexity of links between different types of student-teacher relationship and the exteriorized behaviour problems. More specifically, we conclude that a warm type relation is less likely to be associated with exteriorized behaviour problems of students at risk, and that as much in 1st year of high school as in the 5th. According to our results, conflict and controversial relationship types are significantly linked to exteriorized behaviour problems of students at risk in the 1st and the 5th year of high school. In the case of the negligent relationship, the results demonstrate the existence of a correlation between this bond type and exteriorized behaviour problems. However, the strength of this correlation is higher for the students at risk in the 5th year of high school as compared to the same students when they were in their 1st year. Finally, when all the results are taken together, they reveal the relative stability of the relationship type over time and on the other hand, a significant increase in the frequency of problematic behaviour such as serious stealing and psychotropic consumption. Furthermore, the obtained results show the existence of a link between the conflict dimension of the student-teacher relationship and the psychotropic consumption of students accounted by our sample. The present study demonstrates that since conflicts act as risk factors capable of increasing the frequency of exteriorized behaviour problems of high school students considered at risk, the conflict dimension is equally important in the student-teacher relationship as the warmth dimension. A relationship between students and their teachers with a reduced level of conflicts can play an important role in the prevention of this type of problems experienced by high school students.

South African adolescents are more likely to participate in high-risk behaviours, because they are exposed to high-risk environments that have a negative impact on them. The choices that adolescents make during this explorative life stage will influence and determine certain outcomes of their adult lives. Therefore, it is crucial to improve adolescents’ psychological well-being, as they are the future generation adults. Adolescents with behaviour problems form a unique population who do not respond effectively to traditional therapy, and researchers are continuously searching for more effective ways to reach this population. Equine-assisted therapy (EAT) is an intervention that has been proven to be effective with this population and to provide better outcomes than traditional psychotherapy. Although the value and positive effects of EAT has been proven, there is a gap in the literature concerning research on this topic, especially with regard to research conducted by means of quantitative methods. The overarching goal of this study was to evaluate and refine an EAT programme aimed at improving the psychological well-being of boys in a school of industry. This goal was attained by utilising a quantitative, experimental research design. The Solomon four-group design was applied, because it effectively controls pre-test sensitisation and provides the best control against threats to internal validity. The sample was selected from a school of industry near Bloemfontein, which provides residence to a group of adolescent boys who display behaviour problems. The 40 boys (N = 40) included in the sample were divided into two experimental groups of 10 boys each and two control groups of 10 boys each. During the course of the study, one of the boys withdrew and the sample was reduced to 39 boys. The programme was administered to the boys in the experimental groups. Before the programme commenced, one of the experimental groups and one of the control groups completed the pre-test. The psychometric instruments used were a biographical questionnaire, the Satisfaction with Life Scale and the Coping Orientations to the Problems Experienced Questionnaire. The boys then completed the EAT programme which consisted of eight sessions, each with its own outcomes and designed to improve subjective well-being and coping. After completion of the programme, all four groups completed the post-test consisting of the same psychometric instruments as the pre-test. The results showed that the programme significantly improved the boys’ subjective well-being. The boys’ problem-focused coping, emotion-focused coping and dysfunctional coping were also increased significantly. These improvements can be attributed directly to the programme, because pre-test sensitisation was controlled. The study found that the EAT programme had a significant positive effect on the boys’ subjective well-being and coping. The conclusion can be drawn that the programme significantly improved the boys’ psychological well-being. The programme was evaluated and refined, and recommendations were made for its future use. / PhD (Psychology), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014

Learners with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) traditionally display disruptive and other associated negative behaviour in the classroom setting. Behaviour management strategies utilised by the teacher in the school environment can assist in reducing this type of behaviour that impacts negatively upon their academic performance. This research study develops and investigates the effectiveness of a programme of practical behaviour management strategies designed to reduce disruptive behaviour of learners with ADHD in the classroom. / Educational Studies / M. Ed. (Educational Psychology)

Problem behaviours amongst adolescent learners continue to affect the goals of effective education. The current study sought to investigate adolescents’ perspectives of discipline problems at a secondary school in Gauteng. A mixed method research design was followed during which questionnaires, focus groups and interviews directed the empirical investigation. The findings revealed two areas for addressing and improving the discipline problems of the secondary school, namely improving extrinsic factors and improving the current discipline system. Based on the findings, it was suggested that the school encourage greater parent involvement and improve parent-teacher communication. Creating a positive school identity and developing teachers further was proposed. An improved discipline system based on a positive learning approach was recommended. This included clarifying the discipline system to all role players, standardising discipline procedures throughout the school and improving follow up procedures regarding learner discipline. / Psychology of Education / M. Ed. (Guidance and Counselling)

Depuis longtemps, la réussite éducative est au coeur des préoccupations des acteurs du milieu scolaire. Pour certains élèves, comme ceux qui présentent un handicap ou des difficultés d’adaptation ou d’apprentissage, il peut s’avérer ardu d’optimiser leur développement personnel, social et académique. Parmi ceux-ci, les élèves présentant des difficultés d’adaptation et de comportement constituent l’une des populations pour lesquelles les intervenants se sentent le plus dépourvus de ressources. La recherche a démontré l’efficacité d’interventions comme celles adoptant une approche cognitivo-comportementale ou celles misant sur le développement des compétences socioémotionnelles. Toutefois, les effets obtenus demeurent modestes et ne sont pas toujours maintenus à long terme. De surcroît, les jeunes ayant des difficultés d’adaptation et de comportement présentent des besoins diversifiés qui sont parfois occultés. Notamment, plusieurs d’entre eux auraient des difficultés de langage et de communication. Des difficultés de communication sociale, particulièrement sur le plan des habiletés pragmatiques, seraient présentes chez ces élèves. Pourtant, ces dernières ne seraient que rarement identifiées, signifiant que les interventions qui leur sont proposées ne les prendraient pas en considération. Conséquemment, la présente thèse doctorale détaille l’implantation et les impacts d’une intervention ciblant la communication sociale, et spécifiquement les habiletés pragmatiques, chez des élèves du primaire fréquentant une classe spécialisée de soutien au comportement en raison de difficultés comportementales significatives et persistantes. Grâce à un devis quasi expérimental, celle-ci poursuit trois objectifs : 1) évaluer les effets de l’intervention sur les habiletés pragmatiques de jeunes d’âge scolaire primaire présentant des difficultés d’adaptation et de comportement, 2) évaluer les effets de l’intervention sur leurs manifestations comportementales et 3) documenter la qualité de l’implantation de l’intervention. Ainsi, 29 enfants et quatre enseignantes d’un Centre de services scolaire de la grande région de Montréal ont été recrutés. Une intervention hebdomadaire en classe leur a été proposée pendant huit semaines et des questionnaires avant et après celle-ci ont été remplis par les parents et les enseignantes. Trois articles composent cette thèse. Le premier article expose la problématique entourant les relations entre le langage, la communication et le comportement chez l’enfant. Il soutient la pertinence sociale et scientifique de ce projet. Il aborde les principaux concepts de l’étude, dont celui de la communication sociale. Le second article propose une synthèse des connaissances liant la pragmatique développementale aux difficultés d’adaptation et de comportement chez l’enfant. Il examine ces liens à la fois pour les manifestations comportementales intériorisées et extériorisées, ainsi que dans le contexte de la maltraitance qui s’avère fréquemment associé aux comportements inadaptés. Le dernier article situe l’importance de la communication sociale au sein du modèle du traitement de l’information sociale. Il présente les résultats obtenus dans ce projet de recherche. Bien que cette thèse doctorale ne démontre pas de changements statistiquement significatifs à la suite de l’intervention implantée, celle-ci accentue la pertinence d’étudier les relations entre le langage, la communication et le comportement. Elle stimule la réflexion sur les interventions en milieu scolaire et sur les recherches futures afin d’assurer la réussite éducative des élèves présentant des difficultés d’adaptation et de comportement. / In schools, educational success of all students is central. However, optimizing personal, social and academic development can be difficult for some students, such as those with a disability or with adaptation or learning difficulties. More specifically, helping students with adjustment and behavioural difficulties can be quite challenging for educators who are not always adequately equipped to face their challenges. Over the years, research has demonstrated the effectiveness of cognitive-behavioural approaches and interventions focusing on the development of socioemotional skills. However, the effects obtained with those interventions remain modest and are not always maintained over time. Moreover, children with adjustment and behavioural difficulties have diverse needs that are sometimes overlooked in both research and practice. In fact, most of them present language and communication impairments that impact their social communication and pragmatic skills. However, these difficulties are rarely identified, and therefore not considered in the interventions they receive. In light of these findings, this doctoral thesis details the implementation and impacts of an intervention targeting social communication, and more specifically pragmatic skills, in elementary school students with significant and persistent behavioural difficulties attending a specialized behavioural support class. Using a quasi-experimental design, the study had three objectives: 1) to evaluate the intervention’s effects on the pragmatic skills of elementary school-aged children with adjustment and behavioural difficulties attending a specialized class, 2) to evaluate the intervention’s effects on the children’s behavioural manifestations, and 3) to document the quality of the intervention’s implementation. Thus, 29 children and four teachers from a school board in the greater Montreal area were recruited. A weekly classroom intervention was offered for eight weeks, and pre- and post-intervention forms were completed by parents and teachers. This thesis is built around three articles. The first article presents the relationship between language, communication, and behaviour in children. It supports the social and scientific relevance of this research project and discusses the study’s main concepts, including social communication. The second article synthesizes the knowledge linking developmental pragmatics to adaptation and behavioural difficulties in children. This overview examines the links between those concepts for both internalized and externalized behavioural manifestations, as well as in the context of maltreatment, which is frequently associated with maladaptive behaviours. The third and final paper situates the importance of social communication within the social information processing model. It presents the results obtained in this research project. Although this doctoral thesis does not show statistically significant changes following the intervention’s implementation, it highlights the relevance of examining the relationship between language, communication, and behaviour. It paves the way for a reflection on the type of interventions that need to be implemented in the school environment and on the research that should be pursued to ensure the educational success of students with adjustment and behavioural difficulties.

Thèse de doctorat présentée en vue de l'obtention du doctorat en psychoéducation (Ph.D) / Externalizing behaviour problems are among the most prevalent motives for consultation of psychosocial services and are associated with significant negative consequences. Given that parenting practices are among the most important risk and protective factors in the development of externalizing behaviour problems, several parenting programs have been developed. A preventive approach should be prioritized to maximize the benefits of these programs and limit the consequences of externalizing behaviour problems. However, recruiting parents to these programs in a prevention context remains a pervasive challenge. In addition, many professionals in Quebec have limited access to French-language resources on effective practices to manage externalizing behaviour problems, as they are typically found in manuals for evidence-based programs that require costly training. In light of this, the general objectives of this thesis are to evaluate the ÉQUIPE parenting program in a prevention context, examine the factors predicting parental refusal to participate in the prevention study evaluating this program, and to better equip professionals in their clinical practice with parents. The first thesis article is a randomized controlled trial (RCT) aimed to evaluate the ÉQUIPE program in the prevention of childhood externalizing behaviour problems and to test whether the intervention's effects are explained by the improvement of parenting practices. The results suggest that program participation is associated with parents' improved ability to provide structure and set limits, as well as with enhanced child cooperation. Indirect effects of the program through parents' ability to structure and set limits were also demonstrated on child cooperation and externalizing behaviour problems. The second article aimed to evaluate whether sociodemographic characteristics, as well as other children and parent characteristics, were associated with parental refusal to participate in the RCT evaluating the ÉQUIPE program. Results show that lower perceived parental efficacy and better quality of marital relationships were associated with the refusal to participate in the RCT. Finally, the clinical chapter aimed to better equip professionals working with parents of young children displaying externalizing behaviour problems. This chapter highlights the latest knowledge of early childhood externalizing behaviour problems, assessment methods, best intervention practices for parents of children at-risk or manifesting externalizing behaviour problems, as well as the studies on the efficacy of these interventions. / Les problèmes de comportements extériorisés à l’enfance sont parmi les motifs de consultation les plus prévalents et peuvent générer d’importantes répercussions. Plusieurs programmes de soutien à la parentalité ont été développés, considérant que les pratiques parentales sont parmi les facteurs de risque et de protection les plus importants. Une approche préventive doit être privilégiée pour maximiser les bénéfices de ces programmes et limiter les conséquences des problèmes de comportements extériorisés. Or, le recrutement des parents reste un enjeu omniprésent pour participer à un programme de soutien à la parentalité en contexte de prévention. En plus, plusieurs intervenants au Québec ont un accès limité aux ouvrages en français portant sur les pratiques efficaces pour gérer les problèmes de comportements extériorisés. En effet, ces pratiques se trouvent généralement dans les manuels d’animation des programmes probants requérant une formation couteuse. À la lumière de ces constats, les objectifs généraux de cette thèse sont d’évaluer le programme de soutien à la parentalité ÉQUIPE en contexte de prévention, tester les facteurs susceptibles de prédire le refus des parents de participer à l’étude évaluant ce programme et d’outiller les intervenants dans leur pratique auprès des parents. Dans le cadre d’un essai contrôlé randomisé (ECR), le premier article de la thèse visait à évaluer l'efficacité du programme ÉQUIPE pour prévenir les problèmes de comportements extériorisés à l’enfance et à tester si les effets de l'intervention s'expliquent par l’amélioration des pratiques parentales. Les résultats indiquent que la participation au programme est associée à une meilleure capacité des parents d’assurer une structure et de fixer des limites ainsi qu’à une meilleure coopération de l’enfant. Des effets indirects du programme via la capacité des parents à structurer et à fixer des limites ont également été démontrés sur la coopération et les comportements extériorisés de l’enfant. Le deuxième article visait à évaluer si les caractéristiques sociodémographiques ainsi que les caractéristiques des enfants et des parents étaient associées au refus des parents de participer à l’ECR évaluant le programme ÉQUIPE. Les résultats montrent que la perception des parents d’un moindre sentiment d'efficacité parentale et d’un niveau plus élevé de bonheur dans la relation conjugale était associée au refus de participer à l'ECR. Enfin, le troisième ouvrage est un chapitre clinique ayant comme objectif d’outiller les intervenants travaillant auprès des parents d’enfants manifestant des problèmes de comportements extériorisés à la petite enfance. Ce chapitre met en lumière les connaissances les plus récentes sur les problèmes de comportements extériorisés à la petite enfance, les méthodes d’évaluation, les pratiques à promouvoir auprès des parents d’enfants à risque ou manifestant des problèmes de comportements extériorisés ainsi que les études d’efficacité de ces interventions.

Tbis study has as primary objective the development of an appropriate model to assist ' teachers, in South Africa, to be able to understand and assist learners with behaviour problems. The need for the study has its genesis within the current difficulties teachers experience in dealing with behaviour problems in the classroom and the fact that increasing numbers of children are involved. A key facet of the research is its accent on the unmet emotional needs of learners that function as a behavioural determinant. The study is analytical descriptive in nature and as such is based on two fundamental dimensions:- to acquire a sound theoretical understanding of the concepts, causative 'factors and underlying behaviour problems and the most appropriate means to deal therewith and substantiating the insights acquired by means of interviews with teachers, school principals, and other significant role players. An earnest attempt was made to analyse behaviour problems in terms of the various theoretical frameworks presented within contemporary literature. The ecological systems model was found to be the most appropriate for the development of the . referenced model. This stands in sharp contrast to the traditional medical model which in many instances still forms the basis of current theory and practice. Learners with emotional problems experience behaviour problems which serve as barriers to effective learning. Little attention however, has been attributed to putting appropriate systems in place to assist these learners. A key consideration embodied within the new Education Policy (NCS DOCUMENT 1997:1 0) is the issue of meeting the needs of all learners so that they are able to actualise their potential - this includes their emotional needs. The findings of this study need to be seen within the light of meeting this objective. In order to address the unmet emotional needs of learner, teachers must attend to the cognitive mind maps which embody internalized feelings and cognition. A model for understanding the cognitive maps has been developed as part of this study and serves as introduction to the model developed to assist learners wi~h behaviour problems. The study provides a new perspective directed at understanding instead of managing behaviour problems. / Educational Studies / D. Ed. (Special Needs Education)

Tbis study has as primary objective the development of an appropriate model to assist ' teachers, in South Africa, to be able to understand and assist learners with behaviour problems. The need for the study has its genesis within the current difficulties teachers experience in dealing with behaviour problems in the classroom and the fact that increasing numbers of children are involved. A key facet of the research is its accent on the unmet emotional needs of learners that function as a behavioural determinant. The study is analytical descriptive in nature and as such is based on two fundamental dimensions:- to acquire a sound theoretical understanding of the concepts, causative 'factors and underlying behaviour problems and the most appropriate means to deal therewith and substantiating the insights acquired by means of interviews with teachers, school principals, and other significant role players. An earnest attempt was made to analyse behaviour problems in terms of the various theoretical frameworks presented within contemporary literature. The ecological systems model was found to be the most appropriate for the development of the . referenced model. This stands in sharp contrast to the traditional medical model which in many instances still forms the basis of current theory and practice. Learners with emotional problems experience behaviour problems which serve as barriers to effective learning. Little attention however, has been attributed to putting appropriate systems in place to assist these learners. A key consideration embodied within the new Education Policy (NCS DOCUMENT 1997:1 0) is the issue of meeting the needs of all learners so that they are able to actualise their potential - this includes their emotional needs. The findings of this study need to be seen within the light of meeting this objective. In order to address the unmet emotional needs of learner, teachers must attend to the cognitive mind maps which embody internalized feelings and cognition. A model for understanding the cognitive maps has been developed as part of this study and serves as introduction to the model developed to assist learners wi~h behaviour problems. The study provides a new perspective directed at understanding instead of managing behaviour problems. / Educational Studies / D. Ed. (Special Needs Education)