2.5. Composition of the cumulative risk score
Oldfield[5_TD$DIFF] ([10_TD$DIFF]2012) established both individual and school level risk factors for behavior difficulties in children with SEND. Variables were defined as risk factors when they emerged as significant predictors of behavior difficulties from either the child or adolescent multi-level models. Here we extend these findings by generating a cumulative risk score for the significant risk factors identified solely at the individual level. This decision is consistent with previous literature (AtzabaPoria et al., 2004), where risk accumulation is often measured within a single ecological level. Oldfield and Humphrey found a total of eight significant individual level risk factors in the child model. Four were variable in nature (eligibility for free school meals [FSM]; identified as a bully; having poor relationships with teachers and peers, and lower academic achievement [specifically English attainment]) and led to the cumulative risk score. The remaining four risk factors were demographic (male; autumn born3; older within the school system, being identified as having the SEND type—Behavior Emotional and Social Difficulties) and were added to the MLM as covariates. In the adolescent model seven significant individual level risk factors were noted. Five were variable in nature (eligibility for FSM; identified as a bully; identified a bystander to bullying; poor attendance, poor academic achievement [specifically English attainment]) and made up the cumulative risk score. The remaining two demographic risks (male; younger in the school system) were added as covariates to the MLM.