Investigating quality of life and self-stigma in Hong Kong children with specific learning disabilities.

Children with specific learning disabilities (SpLD) are likely to develop self-stigma and have a poor quality of life (QoL) because of their poor academic performance. Although both self-stigma and poor QoL issues are likely to be found in low academic achievers without SpLD, children with SpLD have worse situation because their diagnosis of SpLD suggests that their learning struggles are biological and permanent. Specifically, students' perception of own capabilities may be affected more by the diagnosis of SpLD than their own actual performance. We examined the self-stigma and QoL of children with SpLD in Hong Kong, a region with an academics-focused culture. Children with SpLD (n=49,Mage±SD=9.55±1.21; SpLD group) and typically developing children (n=32,Mage±SD=9.81±1.40; TD group) completed a Kid-KINDL to measure QoL and a Modified Self-Stigma Scale to measure self-stigma. All parents completed a parallel Kid-KINDL to measure QoL of their children. Compared with the TD group, the SpLD group had a higher level of self-stigma (p=0.027) and lower QoL (child-reported Kid-KINDL: p=0.001; parent-reported Kid-KINDL: p<0.001). In the academics-focused environment in Hong Kong, SpLD was associated with impaired QoL and higher self-stigma. Treatments targeting the learning process of children with SpLD may be designed to overcome self-stigma and to improve QoL. In addition, the program may involve parents of the children with SpLD or other people (e.g., the peer of the children with SpLD) for improving their understanding and perceptions of SpLD.

Chan Y ，Chan YY ，Cheng SL ，Chow MY ，Tsang YW ，Lee C ，Lin CY ... -  《-》

Quality of life in newly diagnosed children with specific learning disabilities (SpLD) and differences from typically developing children: a study of child and parent reports.

Research on quality of life (QoL) of school children with specific learning disabilities (SpLD) and their parents is scarce. The present study explores QoL deficits in newly diagnosed children with SpLD and their parents, in comparison to a similar age group of typically developing children. Possible associations between parental and child QoL were statistically explored in both groups of children. 70 newly diagnosed children with SpLD [International Classification of Diseases-10 (ICD-10) criteria] (38 boys, 32 girls, mean age 10.1 years) and a control group of 69 typically developing children of the same age (40 boys, 29 girls, mean age 10.6 years) were recruited. Children were of normal intelligence quotient, attending mainstream schools. Their parents were also recruited so a child's scores could be associated with corresponding parental scores (mother or father). Children's QoL was assessed by the German questionnaire for measuring quality of life in children and adolescents (KINDL(R) ) questionnaire and parental QoL by World Health Organization Quality of Life brief questionnaire (WHOQOL-BREF) of the World Health Organization. Children with SpLD in comparison to typically developing children reported according to the KINDL(R) measurement poorer emotional well-being, lower self-esteem and satisfaction in their relationships with family and friends. Surprisingly, school functioning was not reported by these children as an area of concern. Parents of children with SpLD indicated experiencing lower satisfaction in the WHOQOL-BREF domains of social relationships and environment. Correlational and regression analysis with parental-child QoL scores provided evidence that in the SpLD group, parental scores on WHOQOL-BREF social relationships and psychological health domains could be predictors of the child's emotional well-being, satisfaction with family, friends and school functioning. Stepwise regression analysis verified the effect of parents' WHOQOL-BREF social relationships domain on several dimensions of children's KINDL(R) QoL.   The results may suggest certain significant effects of the SpLD condition on newly diagnosed children's QoL. Emotional and social deficits seem to be experienced by this cohort of children and their parents. Investigation into the possible interrelationships between parental and child QoL seems to indicate that parental social wellbeing may to a certain extend influence some dimensions of the child's QoL. The findings are useful for policy making and specialized interventions for children with SpLD and their families.

Ginieri-Coccossis M ，Rotsika V ，Skevington S ，Papaevangelou S ，Malliori M ，Tomaras V ，Kokkevi A ... -  《-》

Does the subjective quality of life of children with specific learning disabilities (SpLD) agree with their parents' proxy reports?

Rotsika V ，Coccossis M ，Vlassopoulos M ，Papaeleftheriou E ，Sakellariou K ，Anagnostopoulos DC ，Kokkevi A ，Skevington S ... -  《-》

Quality of life of parents of children with newly diagnosed specific learning disability.

Karande S ，Kulkarni S 《-》

Health-related quality of life and psychological wellbeing of children with Specific Learning Disorders and their mothers.

Literature suggests that Specific Learning Disorders (SpLD) can cause impairment of Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) and psychological well-being of children, and that this condition potentially affects parents' quality of life and well-being too. This study aims first to explore HRQoL and psychological well-being among children with SpLD and second among mothers of children with SpLD. Thirty children aged 8-14 years diagnosed as having SpLD and their mothers completed a battery of scales to assess children's HRQoL and psychological well-being. Mothers also completed a battery of instruments to explore their personal HRQoL and psychological well-being. Compared with the general population, children with SpLD reported significantly lower level of psychosocial health, and mothers had a higher probability of being anxious and/or depressed. This study supports previous research about impaired HRQoL, symptoms of generalized anxiety, school-related anxiety and depressed mood in children with SpLD. Moreover, it provides evidence that mothers of children with SpLD may experience stress in coping with their child's disability and develop socio-emotional symptoms such as anxiety. Implications concern the need to implement effective supportive services among children with SpLD and their parents.

Matteucci MC ，Scalone L ，Tomasetto C ，Cavrini G ，Selleri P ... -  《-》